The George Washington Trivet(11/15/08) According to Kelly & Ellwood in their 1990 book Trivets & Stands, the first George Washington Trivet was designed and cast in brass for the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition of 1876. George Washington was an appropriate subject, considering that the Exposition was held to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Dec
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Patina as an Indicator of Age, or NOT!(10/3/08) Patina is a natural surface tint which occurs on many objects of age. Most collectors consider patina desirable, and will pay more for an object with authentic patina.
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Fake Porcelain Marks: Recognizing Forged or imitation Marks on Ceramics(10/1/08) Identifying porcelain is more than just “reading” a mark. It involves careful consideration of many elements to confirm correct age and authenticity.
There are thousands of Porcelain marks and even experienced collectors and antiques dealers can have difficulty in determining whether an item is new, and avoid costly mistakes.
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Across this Appraiser’s desk(8/28/08) As an Appraiser one here’s some pretty amazing stories about items from their owners, like great- great-great Uncle Jack’s sword from Bunker Hill, meat platters that were taken into Kentucky by Daniel Boone and copies of the Constitution found in an old trunk.
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Fake China Coins to be on Display.(8/27/08) PCGS (Professional Coin Grading Services) has purchased a half dozen coinage dies used to produce counterfeit Chinese coins.
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Imitation British Halfpence (Machin’s Mills and Other Coinage of 1786-1789(6/5/08) The most common coin used for small transactions in early America was the copper British halfpenny. These were widely accepted non-legal tender status and were a prime choice for unauthorized reproduction by private individuals. Many counterfeits were made in this country by casting or other crude methods; some were even made in England and imported to this country.
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The power of the past…(4/29/08) The power of the past in design, desire, money, art, furniture and most everything else of value is echoed in reproductions.
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