The Dreaded Dark Mark

Black marks on antique furniture are often mistaken for burn marks or imperfections in the wood grain.

The truth is that most black marks on furniture are a result of the surface being damp (such as a wet vase base or damp item being left on the furniture). Often water marks are polished or waxed over before they have been given suffcient time to dry out, meaning the moisture is then locked into the surface of the furniture with no way of getting out.

This then results in the dreaded 'Dark Mark', a black shape on the surface that cannot be removed unless the furniture is completely stripped back down the bare wood. (Not advisable with antique furniture!)

This Drop leaf table shows a small example of a water mark at the back on the right, although having been made around 1740 it has withstood over 250 years of use! 18th Century Drop Leaf Table


 Regency Mahogany Dining Table

Dining Tables, sideboards and larger items of furniture are most commonly afflicted by black marks, due to their practical uses and surface area. The dining table above is a high quality Regency dining table, with an excellent condition surface, although you can imagine how black marks could happen given the expanse of such surfaces and 200 years of use!

In general, black water marks add to the character of the item, especially with pre 18th century items, as they become part of the surfaces patina, which has developed over time. 

Insight by Graham Smith Antiques
Advice on Care of Antiques

How to Irish!

Irishing is a term used in the trade for the way to carry large square pieces of furniture. After an absolutely comical incident recently witnessed by Graham at Bonhams, this blog post was a must!

Incident details...Whilst standing talking with a group of fellow antique dealers, Graham was distracted by two men who had arrived to collect an enormous chest of drawers. They clearly had no idea what they were doing and started trying to lift the item down the stairs by each holding an end at the same level!

As we looked on in horror as the man going down the stairs began to get crushed and the man at the top of the stairs was practically dragged down! See the image below to visualise the scene!

Graham intervened and showed them how to Irish, saving them from near certain failure and lots of trouble from their employer when the chest was dropped down the stairs and ruined!

How to Irish!

Fist, ensure that any doors or drawers that could fall open when carrying are locked or secured shut.

This method requires two people standing at each short end of the piece of furniture. One person tips the chest away from them, until the top of the other side is at a comfortable carrying height for the other person, then the person who tipped the furniture should lift from the underneath of their side (which will by now be a comfortable carrying height without bending). The person opposite can now lift at the same time from the top edge by grasping both corners....
This is how to Irish!

Carrying furniture properly is something second nature to antique dealers, so it's nice to be able to spread the news that it doesn't need to be a nightmare! (Unless you're trying to move a Piano, in which case it actually is a NIGHTMARE!!)

Insight courtesy of..
Graham Smith Antiques
www.grahamsmithantiques.com
83 Fern Avenue,
Jesmond,
Newcastle upon Tyne,
NE2 2RA
ENGLAND

The True Value of Antique Furniture

Do you think about the true value of the furniture you choose for your home? Do you consider the fact that if you choose modern furniture it will be virtually unsalable as soon as it leaves the showroom?
When you buy a car, you think about the resale value, the quality, the reliability and so on. When you buy furniture, does the same amount of thought go into the purchase and if not, why on earth not?!

Take these two wardrobes as an example; one is from a well known retailer of quality modern furniture and the other is a Victorian wardrobe. There are obviously slight differences in detail, although look at the true value below...

NEW £2,139 Retail Price

Resale Value = Nil

 

ANTIQUE £1,200 Retail Price

Resale Value = Approx 70% of retail price

When people say they can't afford to buy antiques, could it be that they haven't really considered the true value of the furniture they are choosing?!

The Victorian Walnut wardrobe above is available for sale, although after this post I don't think it's going to be there much longer!
http://www.grahamsmithantiques.com/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=1721&idcategory=

http://www.grahamsmithantiques.com/

Vouching for National Antiques Week

“Vouching for Antiques Week”



Graham Smith Antiques is Vouching for National Antiques Week (15th – 21st November 2010) by launching their own gift vouchers. The vouchers are a move to encourage shoppers to buy antique Christmas gifts without the worry of choosing the perfect item amongst the vast array of stock on their website and Jesmond shop.

The theme of this year’s National antiques week, “now is the time to buy antiques” is the inspiration behind the launch of the gift vouchers. Mr Smith commented on the timing of the launch, saying

“The National Antiques Week campaign aims to demonstrate and celebrate what excellent value for money antiques represent when compared to similar High Street purchases, so our vouchers are a move to encourage a younger, less experienced audience to opt for antiques as their gift of choice this Christmas.”

National antiques week is an annual event to promote the antiques trade and the benefits of buying and owning antique items. The 2010 theme follows on from the 2009 theme of ‘Antiques are Green’, which proved highly successful in raising the profile of the antiques trade nationwide.
The new gift vouchers are available in £50 and £100 denominations, redeemable both online and in store. They can be purchased in their Jesmond shop, over the phone or via their website.


0044 (0)191 2815065 / info@grahamsmithantiques.com

To buy a voucher click the link below...
http://www.grahamsmithantiques.com/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=1510&idcategory=0