Have you ever wondered how the experts on Antiques Road Show and other television antique programs can tell instantly what the age is, and who made a piece of antique furniture.
How can they tell so quickly if it is authentic or if it has been altered in any way?
The truth is they do have time to thoroughly examine each piece before hand as each portion of the program takes a few hours in the making.
They still have to be experts in their job though as they need to identify many different parts of each piece of furniture.
If for instance they are looking at an antique table! the legs can often identify the age and the maker, as each great cabinet maker had their own styles, although many other cabinet makers copied those styles over the years.
In 1745 Thomas Chippendale published his designs of fashionable English furniture it was called Gentleman and cabinet - makers director.
These designs were widely copied and used by other cabinet makers in both England and North America, because of this many of his fine pieces are unverified meaning you could be in possession of a true Chippendale or an excellent copy.
Each era has brought its own styles and shapes of furniture to a period, much like the change of house design. Each era has its own distinctive style and design until we come to the modern day.
Houses are now designed not for their style or grandeur but simply for modern day living. Everything is manufactured and gone is sense of pride in achieving something that will make its mark and last through the ages.
Modern furniture has followed in their path with much of it being discarded after a few years being to flimsy to pass the test of time.
What will the Elizabethan age leave for future generations?
No comments:
Post a Comment