Expertise
Methods for determining authenticity, analysis of marks and signatures. Expert and restorer advice.
Articles (22)
Autograph Authentication: How Not to Buy a Signature Made Yesterday
At the heart of autograph expertise lies a detailed graphological analysis. Specialists don't just look at the similarity of letters; they study micro-characteristics that are nearly impossible to forge. Key attention is paid to three main aspects: pressure, dynamics, and writing speed.
Expertise
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Authentication of Antique Books: Paper, Binding, and Font
Paper is one of the main markers of a book's age. Until the mid-19th century, so-called 'rag' paper, made from linen or cotton, was used for printing. It is durable, elastic to the touch, and often has a characteristic mesh-like structure visible when held up to the light.
Expertise
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The Most Notorious Forgeries in the History of Collecting
The world of collecting has always been an arena not only for connoisseurs of beauty but also for virtuoso fraudsters. The history of the art market is full of dramatic stories about forgeries that have deceived the most reputable experts, museums, and wealthy collectors. These stories are not just tales of crime, but fascinating narratives about the psychology, talent, and technology of deception.
Expertise
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Online Appraisal by Photo: Opportunities, Risks, and Reliable Services
In the digital age, the ability to get an expert opinion on an antique without leaving home has become a reality. Online appraisal by photo has become a popular tool for both novice collectors and casual owners of historical items. It allows you to quickly understand whether you are holding a family heirloom or a potentially valuable artifact.
Expertise
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Restorers' Secrets: When Intervention Increases and When It Decreases an Item's Value
In the world of antiques, not every aesthetic improvement is beneficial. A prime example is numismatics. Attempting to make an old coin shiny with cleaning agents can reduce its value tenfold or more, or even bring it down to the price of the metal. The reason lies in the patina—a noble layer that forms on the metal's surface over decades and centuries.
Expertise
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How to Recognize 'Reproductions' in the Antiques Market
The antiques market is filled not only with unique items with a history but also with their modern copies, known as 'reproductions.' These are items intentionally created to look old, and their production has now reached an industrial scale. Distinguishing such an item from a genuine artifact can be difficult, as forgery masters have learned to imitate the styles and technologies of past eras.
Expertise
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Features of Icon Appraisal: What Does an Expert Look For?
The appraisal of an antique icon often resembles the work of an archaeologist. One of the main challenges is the multi-layered nature of the painting. Over the centuries, icons could be repeatedly renewed or completely repainted over the original image. These layers are called 'overpaintings' ('zapis'), and beneath them may lie a genuine masterpiece from a completely different era.
Expertise
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Jewelry Appraisal: How to Determine the Authenticity of Stones and Metal
A preliminary assessment of a piece of jewelry doesn't always require complex equipment. You can start with two key tools that will help you draw initial conclusions about the authenticity of the stones and the overall condition of the piece. The basics of gemology for beginners start with knowing how to correctly use these simple instruments.
Expertise
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What is Provenance and Why is it so Important for Collectors
In the world of collecting, you can often hear the term 'provenance'. Translated from French (provenance), this word means 'origin' or 'source'. However, for a collector, its meaning is much deeper — it is the complete and confirmed history of ownership of an art or antique object, from the moment of its creation to the present day.
Expertise
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Technology Guarding Authenticity: From X-Rays to Chemical Analysis
In the world of art and antiques, the cost of a mistake can be colossal. Traditional expertise, based on stylistic analysis and the study of provenance (history of ownership), is undoubtedly important. However, even the most experienced eye of an art historian can be deceived by a skillful forgery.
Expertise
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Conducting an Expert Appraisal: Where to Go and How Much Does It Cost?
When the need arises to determine the authenticity and value of an antique, the owner faces a choice: where to go for an expert appraisal? The market for these services in Russia is clearly structured, with three main types of players. Each has its own features, advantages, and disadvantages.
Expertise
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Marks on Porcelain and Silver: A Complete Guide for Collectors
For any collector, a mark on an antique item is its passport. A small sign, impression, or drawing on the bottom of a porcelain cup or the handle of a silver spoon carries a vast amount of information. It is the mark that helps determine the authenticity, age, place of production, and even the name of the item's creator.
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Forgeries and Copies: How to Distinguish a Fake Painting from an Original
In the art world, a work's authenticity is determined not just by its appearance, but by its history. Provenance is the documented history of a painting's ownership, from the artist's studio to the present day. Impeccable provenance is often a more compelling argument for authenticity than any technical examination.
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The Basics of Attribution: How to Determine the Age and Origin of Antique Furniture
The first step in attributing antique furniture is to identify its style. Each historical period had its own characteristic features, forms, and decorative elements. Knowledge of these features helps to narrow down the time frame of the item's creation and determine its origin.
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How to Identify a Dangerous Counterfeit of a Nicholas II 10 Ruble Coin: Signs of a 'Davlenka'
In times of economic instability, many seek ways to protect their savings from inflation by converting paper money into more tangible assets. One such reliable tool is gold coins, which can safeguard the real value of capital against the depreciation of currencies, whether it be the dollar or the euro.
ExpertiseCollector's Guide
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Varieties of the 1897 15 Ruble Gold Coin: How to Identify and Its Value
The 15-ruble gold coin of 1897, issued during the reign of Nicholas II, has several varieties that are of interest to collectors. The key factor affecting its rarity and value is the difference in the obverse die.
Collector's GuideExpertise
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How to Spot a Fake 5000 Ruble Banknote: Key Signs of a Counterfeit
When checking the authenticity of 5000 ruble banknotes, it's important to consider their modification. For example, the 1997 series banknote, modified in 2010, has noticeable differences: the coat of arms changes color when tilted, the security thread appears on the surface of the front side, and the serial numbers have different colors (green on the left and red on the right).
ExpertiseCollector's Guide
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Baranov's Banknotes: How to Distinguish the Legendary Counterfeit 25 Rubles of 1961
The counterfeit banknotes of Viktor Ivanovich Baranov are a famous chapter in the history of the Soviet Union. His craftsmanship was so high that the bills he created were practically indistinguishable from the state-issued ones, and in some aspects, even surpassed them. He produced these banknotes in makeshift conditions, in his own shed using homemade equipment.
ExpertiseCollector's Guide
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What is Coin Slabbing and Why a Collector Needs It
For many collectors, the terms 'grading' and 'slabbing' may be unfamiliar. This refers to the process of assessing a coin's condition and subsequently packaging it in a special plastic case called a 'slab.' This process helps protect the coin and officially certify its condition, which directly affects its value.
Collector's GuideExpertise
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NGC Grading Results: From High Grades to a Complete Fiasco
To reduce the cost of the coin grading process at NGC, collectors often team up to share the expenses for shipping and paperwork. This time, a batch of five coins was collected and sent for expert evaluation.
ExpertiseCollector's Guide
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Not-So-Simple Copper: Grading and Examination of Rare Three-Kopek Coins
Among numismatic artifacts, one can find not only genuine specimens but also historical counterfeits. An example of such an object is a counterfeit 1913 three-kopek coin, preserved from an old collection. This coin was most likely produced by casting, as evidenced by its characteristic porosity.
ExpertiseCollector's Guide
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A 19th-Century Staurotheke: The History and Features of the Crucifixion with Selected Saints
An antique icon was purchased at auction for about 350-360 euros. This item is a staurotheke—a special type of icon also known as an 'inset icon.' Such artifacts were most often preserved among Old Believers and hold significant historical value.
History of ThingsExpertise
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