Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1992-05-13, Page 28PAGE 28. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 1992. 9-Come & (garden 1992 Originals not always useable continued from page 26 the case of furniture, feel surfaces, turn things upside-down and exam­ ine the underside. Of course, only an expert can tell for sure, but if you turn a piece over, and the workmanship is too pristine, you know that it may not be very old. Likewise, if you're told that a piece is in original condition, and you see replacements, you know the piece has had work done to it. 3. Look for wear. A hundred year old chest of drawers, for example, will show signs of wear both on the sides and underside of the drawers themselves, as well as the runners in the chest that the drawers slide into. 4. Examine the hardware and the locks of pieces. If there's a lock on a drop-top desk, then there’s got to be a key hole. Sometimes these are covered up with new hardware. New hardware is acceptable, but only if you’re made aware of it. 5. Ask about restoration. Remember when you begin to look for antiques that most pieces cur­ rently available have had some form of restoration done for them. The phrase ‘original condition’, should thus be taken with a grain of salt. What most people simply don't realize is that pieces in their origi­ nal condition are often not suitable for use. The mercury on the backs of old mirrors, for example, chips off, and few mirrors in ‘original condition’ can serve their original function. If you want to hang such a piece as a work of art, that's fine, but if you want a looking glass, you'll have to find a restored piece. Likewise, as most homes were heated with wood or coal-buming stoves which generated a lot of soot, the gilding on the frames of an ‘original’ mirror will doubtless be black. Therefore almost all antique gilt mirrors have been re­ gilded. Another example of the irony of ‘original condition’ is painted fur­ niture. Wood naturally expands and contracts, and responds to changes in humidity; the paint on old furni­ ture flakes after a certain amount of time. If you see a two hundred­ year-old piece of painted furniture that isn't almost completely devoid of paint, it has been restored. Antiques are old - that's what gives them their charm and charac- ter. They are supposed to look old. To expect that an antique chair will look pristine simply doesn't make any sense. You want things to look as though they have been used and carefully cared for by generations of people. If they are worn or cracked, no matter, as long as they can still be used. 6. Find out where the piece was made and who owned it. Owning an antique is like bringing a piece of history into your home. If the dealer is knowledgeable, he should at least be able to tell you approximately when and where a piece was made. Most important furniture and objects will have what is known as ‘provenance,’ a kind of pedigree that tells who orig­ inally commissioned or bought a piece, who made it, where it was made and when plus an indication of who the successive owners were. 7. Leam to identify secondary woods. As you become more adept at identifying periods in furniture and the materials typically used during those periods, you'll be able to use secondary woods as another guide to authenticity. Secondary woods are those mate­ rials used to make the backs, under­ sides, and drawer linings - any hidden part of a piece. For exam­ ple, extraordinary English mahogany furniture may have mahogany or cedar as a secondary wood, but oak is more common. American furniture typically has poplar or pine as a secondary wood. A knowledge of secondary woods also helps to determine how much restoration has been done to a piece. Wood contracts and expands according to the humidity in the air. Sometimes the bottoms of drawers in old pieces shrink to the point that there are significant gaps. These often are remedied by fill­ ing the gap with a strip of wood. If it's a different kind of wood, or one that's a noticeably different color, then you know that repairs have honestly been made. 8. Be careful from whom you buy. Unless you're a professional, buying at flea markets and the like is strictly at your own risk. If you're looking for things for purely deco­ rative purposes, that's fine, but if you're serious about establishing a meaningful (and potentially valu­ able) collection, buy from someone who can date and guarantee a piece. Dealers also should reveal how much restoration was done. 9. Find a dealer who is willing to buy back or trade back at a later date anything he sells. Many peo­ ple's tastes change as they grow more knowledgeable. Reputable dealers should be willing to estab­ lish such a relationship. After all, there is a finite number of worthy pieces available, and if a dealer wants to be able to supply his clients with good pieces at all price levels, it is worth his while to maintain contact with his clients as their collections develop. For the same reasons, it is wise for the client to seek out a dealer whose taste and expertise he trusts, and to develop a longstanding relationship with that dealer. 10. And finally, don't be afraid to make mistakes. Even the most expert dealers get fooled, and it's usually when decisions are made too hastily. But even a goof can be all right, if the piece pleases you; it's just the price that stings.” Don't be shy about your garden continued from page 27 day in really hot weather), so watch for signs of wilting. Don't by shy about your garden - it's one of those things that every­ one enjoys - so invite your neigh­ bours over to see how well it's doing. And, if you are like many gardeners, you'll probably have extra vegetables you can share when things really get going, so share the abundance. Take notes or paragraphs of your garden to plan for next year. If you really liked a certain variety, write it down so you won't forget it next year when you go shopping (saving plant labels is one easy way of doing this). If you think you could use more of something next time, make a note of that, too. And if you think j^ou could use a bigger gar­ den, start planning early so you will be ready when bedding plants are again available at your garden out­ lets. Dealer for Canadiana, Bolens, Noma Lawn & Garden Equipment, Poulan Pro, Weed'Eater Trimmers, Jonsered Chain Saws, Walker Commercial Mowers and Badger Farm Equipment HANK'S SMALL ENGINES SALES & SERVICE Hwy. No. 4 Londesboro 523-9202 Trim Your Lawn Work. Keep your yard under control with a Tanaka gas-powered trim­ mer. Grass, brush or weeds — Tanaka tackles them quickly and efficiently. And with time-saving, high-quality features, a Tanaka trimmer is a good value, too. • BRAIN™ head feeds cutting line automatically to keep the engine running at peak efficiency • Anti-vibration system lets you work in comfort • Standard 9-inch 4-tooth weed blade • Solid steel shaft drive delivers dependable performance • 2-year limited warranty • 5-year warranty on electronic ignition LYNN HOY _ENTERPRISES LTD.T_m_|.s Hwy. #86 1/2 mile east of Wingham g^^B 357-3435 imhww J PRO Reg. $259. ON SALE $175 o° Plus Free Oil Mix Bottle While Supplies Last Model 175 Gas Powered Line Trimmer (18")32CC GLEN SAWS RR 3 Clinton Bus. 482-9292Home 233-3175 J DIRECT FROM THE GREENHOUSE^! TO YOU / Yes, at Scrlmgeour’s we’ve arranged dally shipments of your, gardening supplies from our greenhouse growers. This method allows us the best possible selection and ensures top quality. • BEDDING PLANTS • HANGING BASKETS • PATIO POTS YOUR COMPLETE GARDEN SUPPLY HEADQUARTERS W^SCRIMGEOUR 'S FOOD MARKET 523-4551 BLYTH Now’s the time to save on John Deere quality and reliability. • If you’ve always wanted to own a John Deere Walk-Behind Mower, now’s the time to buy. It’s Deere Season, and that means terrific rebates on the walk- behind that’s made just for you. Choose from 6 models. Check out the easy-starting engines. Deep-contoured aluminum decks that stand grass on its end for a quality cut The easy handling design. And five thoughtfully-planned walking speeds on the self- propelled models. See your John Deere dealer today. It’s your chance to get more mower for a lot less. MODEL NO.14PZ HSZ 14PB . I2SB MSB REBATE $60.00 70.00 70.00 70.00 70.00 LYNN HOY ENTERPRISES LTD. Hwy. #86 1/2 mile east of Wingham 357-3435 Nothing Runs LikeaDeen?