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ANTIQUE DEALERS HAVE TO BE SHOWN THE ROPES BY SOMEONE - IN PERSON AND BY BIOGRAPHY
"ANTIQUE DEALER," BY R.P. WAY - A 1958 BIOGRAPHY THAT IS STILL RELEVANT TO THE TRADE
I DON'T KNOW IF R.P. WAY, THOUGHT THAT HIS BOOK WOULD BE TIMELESS, WHEN IT HIT THE STORE BOOKSHELVES IN THE LATE 1950'S. HE CERTAINLY WOULDN'T HAVE ENTERTAINED THE IDEA, THAT AN ANTIQUE DEALER, LIVING IN GRAVENHURST, ONTARIO, IN THE YEAR 2014, WOULD HAVE IT NEXT TO HIS LIVINGROOM CHAIR, FOR EASY REFERENCE. THIS NEARLY SIX DECADE OLD BOOK, IS STILL AN IMPORTANT ANTIQUE DEALER BIOGRAPHY, DESPITE THE TIME THAT HAS PASSED. MUCH OF WHAT HE HAS INCLUDED IN THE TEXT, RELATES TO MODERN DAY ACTUALITIES, STILL BEING PRACTICED WITHIN THE INDUSTRY. HIS OBSERVATIONS ARE KEEN AND IMPORTANT, AND A LITTLE HUMOROUS, EVEN THE REVELATIONS OF DECEIT AND CUNNING, THAT ARE TRADEMARK CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PROFESSION, DATING BACK BEFORE THE TIME OF CHARLES DICKENS.
FOR EXAMPLE, DID YOU KNOW ABOUT SECRET COMPARTMENTS BUILT INTO SOME PIECES OF ANTIQUE FURNITURE? ACCORDING TO MR. WAY, "DURING THE YEARS I'VE BEEN AN ANTIQUE DEALER, I HAVE OFTEN COME ACROSS SECRET DRAWERS IN PIECES OF FURNITURE. MANY OF THESE ARE OBVIOUS TO THE EXPERIENCED DEALER, AS FOR INSTANCE, THE TWO PILLARS, OR IMITATION BOOKS, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERIOR OF A BUREAU; BUT THERE ARE ALSO A NUMBER OF CLEVER AND INTRICATE SECRET DRAWERS, THAT TAKE A LOT OF FINDING. I HAVE SOMETIMES TAKEN THE BACK OFF A PIECE OF FURNITURE, TO FIND OUT IF THERE WAS A DRAWER WHICH I KNEW FROM THE MEASUREMENTS I'D TAKEN, MUST EXIST SOMEWHERE."
HE WRITES, "ONE DAY, IN OUR WINDOW, IN PARK STREET, WE HAD A FINE WALNUT BUREAU BOOKCASE, THE DOORS OF THE TOP PART HAVING MIRROR PANELS. A CLIFTON CUSTOMER CAME IN AND ASKED MY FATHER WHAT PERIOD IT WAS, AND HOW MUCH HE WANTED FOR IT. THE BUREAU WAS DEFINITELY OF THE QUEEN ANNE PERIOD, BUT IT HAD MORE SHAPING ABOUT THE DOORS AND CORNICE THAN IS USUAL IN SUCH A PIECE. MY FATHER POINTED OUT THESE DETAILS TO OUR CLIENT AND SAID THAT, HE THOUGHT IT MIGHT VERY WELL BE OF DUTCH ORIGIN. THE CLIENT DIDN'T OBJECT TO THIS AND, HAVING AGREED ON THE PRICE, HE ASKED IF WE WOULD DELIVER IT TO HIS HOUSE THE FOLLOWING WEEK. THE NEXT DAY AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE OF MY FATHER'S, AN AUTHORITY ON ANTIQUES, WHO HAD RECENTLY WRITTEN A BOOK ON OLD ENGLISH FURNITURE, CAME INTO THE SHOP. MY FATHER TOLD HIM ABOUT SELLING THE BOOKCASE AND ADDED THAT, FOR HIS OWN SATISFACTION, HE WOULD BE GREATLY OBLIGED IF THE EXPERT COULD GIVE HIM HIS OPINION, AS TO WHETHER IT WAS REALLY ENGLISH OR DUTCH.
"AFTER CAREFULLY EXAMINING THE DOVETAILS OF THE DRAWERS, THE LOCKS AND KEYS AND THE GENERAL CONSTRUCTION OF THE PIECE, THE EXPERT PRONOUNCED IT UNDOUBTEDLY ENGLISH. HE WENT SO FAR AS TO SAY THAT, IF WE WANTED TO, WE COULD PUT ON THE INVOICE THAT IT WAS HIS OPINION. THE DAY BEFORE WE DELIVERED THE BOOKCASE, I CLEANED IT THOROUGHLY. UNLIKE OTHERS, IT HAD TWO CUPBOARDS INSTEAD OF THE USUAL DRAWERS BENEATH THE BUREAU FALL, AND THESE ENCLOSED THREE SLIDING SHELVES ON EITHER SIDE OF THE CENTRE PARTITION; BELOW THESE WERE THREE SMALL DRAWERS ON EITHER SIDE. "MY FATHER TOLD ME TO PULL THE SMALL DRAWERS RIGHT OUT AND TO GIVE THEM A GOOD CLEANING, AS THEY'D PROBABLY NOT BEEN OPENED IN YEARS. AS I STARTED DOING THIS I NOTICED THAT ONE OF THEM WAS THREE INCHES SHORTER THAN THE OTHER TWO. I KNEW AT ONCE THIS MEANT THERE WAS A SECRET DRAWER BEHIND THE SHORT ONE. I SOON FOUND THAT THE PIECE OF WOOD WHICH SEPARATED THIS DRAWER FROM THE OTHERS WAS NOT FASTENED AS IT SHOULD BE, BUT WOULD SLIDE OUT. WHEN I PULLED IT OUT COMPLETELY THERE WAS A TINY DRAWER FASTENED TO IT. INSIDE WERE A FEW SILVER COINS ABOUT THE SIZE OF SIXPENCE, BLACK AND TARNISHED WITH AGE. I EXAMINED THEM CAREFULLY - THEY WERE DUTCH! SO MUCH FOR THE EXPERT'S OPINION, I THOUGHT!"
THE QUESTION, OF COURSE, IS WHETHER THE COINS WERE GIVEN TO THE NEW OWNER. IF THE PIECE HAD BEEN PAID FOR, WITH MONEY ACTUALLY CHANGING HANDS, IT COULD BE ARGUED, THAT ANYTHING FOUND IN THE CABINET AFTERWARDS, SHOULD BELONG TO THE NEW OWNER. IF IT HADN'T BEEN PAID FOR, THEN THE COINS WOULD OBVIOUSLY STILL BELONG TO THE ANTIQUE DEALER. TO REFERENCE ONE OF MY OWN SITUATIONS, WHETHER SOME WILL SEE ME AS A FOOL OR NOT, I DID RETURN QUITE A NUMBER OF VINTAGE COINS, TO A LOCAL SALVATION ARMY THRIFT SHOP, WHEN I FOUND THEM WRAPPED UP INDIVIDUALLY, INSIDE NARROW MOUTHED CROCK. THE REASON THE THRIFT SHOP PERSONNEL DIDN'T CATCH THIS, WAS DUE TO A LARGE, AND UGLY CLUSTER OF PURPLE DRIED FLOWERS, AND A BIG RIBBON TIED AROUND THE STEPS. THE COINS, BEING WRAPPED IN TISSUE, DIDN'T MAKE A SOUND WHEN THE CROCK WAS BEING MOVED BY STAFF, WHO NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT REMOVING THE FLOWERS BEFORE PRICING. I WAS BUYING IT FOR THE CROCK ONLY, BUT THEY REALLY KIND OF LIKE YOU TAKING THE WHOLE JOB-LOT, AND DISCARDING THE PIECES YOU DON'T WANT, AT YOUR HOME OR PLACE OF BUSINESS INSTEAD. SO WHEN I GOT BACK TO OUR SHOP, I IMMEDIATELY REMOVED THE DRIED FLOWERS, SO THAT I COULD CLEAN THE CROCK. WHEN I PULLED THEM OUT, I FOUND ABOUT THREE INCHES OF WRAPPED ITEMS IN THE BOTTOM. WHEN I STARTED UNWRAPPING THEM INDIVIDUALLY, I FOUND NEARLY FORTY VINTAGE COINS HAD BEEN STORED, BY A FORMER OWNER, IN THE VASE FOR THE DRIED FLOWERS. AS I AM NOT A COIN COLLECTOR, I REALLY COULDN'T EVALUATE THEM, AND TRUTH IS, I HAD DECIDED TO GIVE THEM BACK TO THE SHOP MINUTES AFTER I HAD THEM UNCOVERED. I FELT GUILTY ABOUT KEEPING THEM. SOME OF MY DEALER COLLEAGUES THOUGHT I WAS NUTS FOR TURNING THEM IN. SUZANNE AGREE WITH ME, AND THAT'S WHAT MATTERED THE MOST. I DIDN'T FEEL RIGHT HAVING THE COINS, FOR THE SMALL PRICE OF THE CROCK, AND IT SEEMED A GOOD THING FOR THE THRIFT SHOP, TO BE ABLE TO GET THESE BACK, AND HAVE THEM PROPERLY APPRAISED. AS THEY WOULD USE THE MONEY TO HELP THE LESS FORTUNATE, I KNEW IT WAS MORE IMPORTANT TO THEM, THAN TO ME, WHO HAD NO INTEREST IN COINS. SO I BET YOU'RE WONDERING WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF I HAD FOUND SOMETHING IN THAT CROCK THAT INTERESTED ME MORE. I DO KNOW, THAT I WOULD HAVE INSISTED ON THE RIGHT TO BID ON WHATEVER WAS FOUND, OR THEY WOULDN'T GET THEM BACK. IN THE CASE OF THE COINS, THEY WON, AND I LOST THE RIGHT TO BUY THEM FOR ANY PRICE.
WHEN I APPROACHED THE MANAGER, WITH A SMALL BUT SIGNIFICANT PACKET OF THESE COINS, SHE LOOKED BEWILDERED, AND ALMOST RELUCTANT TO TAKE THEM BACK. WHAT MY CONCERN WAS, MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE, WAS THAT A FAMILY MEMBER WOULD COME BACK INTO THE THRIFT SHOP, REALIZING AFTER THE DONATION, THAT A SECRET STASH HAD ACCIDENTALLY BEEN INCLUDED; THE COINS FOR INSTANCE. AS I KNEW THE TWO LADIES ON THE SALES DESK THAT DAY, AND THEY BOTH COMMENTED ON THE HORRIBLE FLORAL ARRANGEMENT IN THE CROCK, I OF COURSE, ASSUMED THEY WOULD SURELY REMEMBER ME AS THE BUYER. AND POINT THE INDIVIDUAL TO OUR SHOP UP THE ROAD. SO INSTEAD OF HAVING AN INCIDENT, OR BEING CONFRONTED ABOUT THE COINS SOMETIME DOWN THE ROAD, BY A FAMILY MEMBER, I BELIEVED IT WAS EASIER TO HANDLE THE MATTER WITHIN THE HOUR OF GETTING THEM; THAN TAKING ANY CHANCE OF DAMAGING OUR SHOP'S REPUTATION BY KEEPING THEM. I DID ASK, THAT IF THEY WERE TO PUT THEM UP FOR SALE, OR UP FOR THEIR SILENT AUCTION, COULD THEY LET ME KNOW SO I COULD SUBMIT A BID, OR BUY THEM OUTRIGHT. THE MATTER WAS NEVER SPOKEN-OF AGAIN, WHICH FRANKLY, I FOUND A LITTLE ODD. THEY NEVER APPEARED IN THE SHOWCASE, OR AS A LOT IN A SILENT AUCTION. BUT IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
THE ONLY OCCASION WHEN I DIDN'T FEEL QUITE AS GOOD, WAS WHEN I PAID BACK AN ANNOYING SHOP OWNER THE HARD WAY. SUZANNE AND I WERE WANDERING ABOUT A REGIONAL FLEA MARKET, THAT HAD A NICE QUANTITY OF ANTIQUES IN THE MIX OF GENERAL MERCHANDISE. WE WEREN'T IN THE BUILDING FOR MORE THAN A FEW MOMENTS, BEFORE THE OWNER WAS RIGHT ON TOP OF US, TRYING TO SELL US EVERYTHING IN THE SHOP. HE TAILED US THE WHOLE WAY THROUGH THE LARGE BUILDING, AND THE MANY AISLES OF COLLECTABLES AND FURNITURE. WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE, WAS THAT HE ACTUALLY TRIED TO BLOCK US IN, AND I ALMOST HAD TO BULL HIM OVER, TO REGAIN OUR EXIT STRATEGY. WE COULDN'T PICK UP OR LOOK AT A SINGLE ITEM, WITHOUT BEING GIVEN THE PIECE'S QUESTIONABLE HISTORY. HE EMBELLISHED EVERYTHING IN THE SHOP, AND THE PRICES WERE FREAKING NUTS. NEAR THE EXIT, I COULDN'T HELP BUT NOTICE AN INTERESTING ORIGINAL LANDSCAPE, HANGING AWKWARDLY FROM A BADLY DAMAGED FRAME. I IMMEDIATELY KNEW THE IMAGE HAD BEEN PAINTED BY GEORGE THOMSON, BROTHER OF LEGENDARY CANADIAN ARTIST, TOM THOMSON. I HAD SOLD NUMEROUS GEORGE THOMSOM PAINTINGS THAT YEAR, AND HIS WORK WAS VERY FAMILIAR TO ME. WHEN I PICKED IT UP, I KNEW IT WAS ONE OF THOSE FRAMING JOBS, WHERE A SECOND PAINTING HAD BEEN PUT IN THE BACK, INSTEAD OF CARDBOARD. THIS IS COMMON, WHEN YOU BUY AS MANY OLD PAINTINGS AS I DO. SO I WAS AWARE THERE WAS A LITTLE EXTRA COMING WITH PAINTING NUMBER ONE.
I HAD ONLY JUST TOUCHED THE FRAME, AND THE BULGING PICTURES, WHEN THE MAN CLOSED IN ON ME, TO THE POINT OF STEPPING ON MY TOES. I COULD TELL BY HIS BREATH, WHAT HE HAD FOR BREAKFAST, AND THE MEAL THE NIGHT BEFORE. HE SEEMED A LITTLE DESPERATE FOR A SALE, AND OFFERED THE FRAMED ART PIECE FOR TWENTY-FIVE BUCKS. HE DIDN'T ASK ME TO MAKE AN OFFER, SO I TOOK HIS. I PURCHASED THE PAINTING, AND WE PUSHED OUR WAY OUT OF THE BUILDING. WE LITERALLY HAD TO BUMP HIM OUT OF THE WAY TO ESCAPE.
THE GEORGE THOMSON EVENTUALLY SOLD QUICKLY, BUT IT WAS THE FOLK ART DEPICTION OF A SAILBOAT, THAT WAS THE REAL TREAT. IT HAD BEEN FASTENED BEHIND THE THOMSON LANDSCAPE, AND OUTSIDE OF SOME MINOR DAMAGE, IT WAS READY FOR SALE IN SEVERAL DAYS. IT HAD BEEN THE ORIGINAL PAINTING IN THAT VICTORIAN ERA FRAME, SO IT WAS RE-ESTABLISHED THAT WAY. I SOLD THE THOMSON WITHOUT A FRAME, AND THAT ONLY TOOK TWO WEEKS.
"AS AN ANTIQUE DEALER, IF HE IS HUMAN, HAS TO STEEL HIMSELF AT TIMES AGAINST THE SADNESS HE IS BOUND TO MEET IN THE COURSE OF HIS BUSINESS. SENTIMENT CANNOT BE ENTIRELY EXCLUDED, AND SOMETIMES IN PRIVATE DEALINGS, I HAVE FELT THE EMOTION OF PITY STABBING ME SHARPLY," WRITES MR. WAY. "I HAVE SEEN TEARS AND HEARD FRANTIC STORIES OF MISFORTUNE. GENERALLY THIS HAS HAPPENED TO THE VERY OLD AND FRAIL, AND I CAN UNDERSTAND THE MISERY THESE GENTLEFOLK HAVE SUFFERED, WHEN, FOR FINANCIAL REASONS, THEY HAVE HAD TO PART WITH SOME OF THEIR POSSESSIONS, ANTIQUES THEY HAVE LOVED ALL THEIR LIVES. I HAVE SEEN THEM WEEP, AS I BEGAN TO PACK UP A CHERISHED OBJECT. I REMEMBER A DAY IN BLACKWATER, NEAR BASINGSTOKE WHEN I WENT TO BUY A BEAUTIFUL LITTLE PAINTED SATINWOOD TABLE FROM A CLIENT, LADY CARRINGTON. I HAD NOT MET HER BEFORE AND WHEN I PAID HER FOR IT, SHE SAID, 'PLEASE MR. WAY, DON'T TOUCH IT UNTIL I'M OUT OF SIGHT, FOR I REALLY CAN'T BEAR TO SEE IT LEAVE THE HOUSE.' WHAT IS INTERESTING ABOUT THIS ANECDOTE IS THAT LADY CARRINGTON WAS, AT THAT TIME, OVER SEVENTY YEARS OF AGE. SHE HAD ONE RULING PASSION; HER HORSES. ALTHOUGH SHE COULD NOT AFFORD IT, SHE REFUSED TO GIVE UP HER STABLES. I SUPPOSE NEARLY EVERYONE HAS SOMETHING FOR WHICH HEY WILL MAKE ANY SACRIFICES; IN HER CASE IT WAS HER HORSES, AND RATHER THAN BE WITHOUT THEM, SHE WAS PREPARED TO PART WITH MANY OF HER MOST PRECIOUS POSSESSIONS.
"ANOTHER TIME I WAS ASKED TO CALL AT A HOUSE NEAR BLACKBOY HILL, BRISTOL. WHEN I GOT THERE, A LADY SHOWED ME SOME VERY SIMPLE PIECES OF ANTIQUE FURNITURE, FEW OF WHICH WERE WORTH BUYING. I POINTED OUT TO HER THAT THEIR VALUE WAS VERY SMALL. 'BUT,' SHE SAID, 'I'VE GOT TO LET THESE ROOMS AS LODGINGS AND I'LL PROBABLY HAVE TO TAKE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS WHO, I'M AFRAID, WILL USE THESE PIECES ROUGHLY, AND I WOULD LIKE YOU TO FIND THEM A GOOD HOME ALMOST AT ANY PRICE RATHER THAN SEE THEM TREATED BADLY.' LATER SHE TOLD ME THAT A LITTLE WHILE BEFORE HER HUSBAND HAD RETIRED, AFTER FORTY YEARS IN A CITY MERCHANT'S OFFICE, HE HAD COME HOME ON THE DAY OF HIS RETIREMENT, PLEASED HIMSELF WITH A SMALL PRESENTATION MADE TO HIM BY THE STAFF AND LOOKING FORWARD TO THE LIFE OF LEISURE AHEAD OF HIM. LIVING CLOSE TO DURDHAM DOWNS, THEY HAD BOTH BEEN FOND OF PLAYING A GAME OF GOLF ON THE FREE NINE-HOLE COURSE THERE. SO ON THE FOLLOWING DAY, WHILE SHE WAS AT HOME COOKING THE SUNDAY JOINT (ROAST), HE SAID, HE WOULD GIVE THEIR GOLF CLUBS A GOOD CLEAN, SO THAT THEY WOULD BE READY TO PLAY WITH ON MONDAY MORNING. AFTER THE SUNDAY LUNCH, HE SAID THAT HE THOUGHT THE EFFORT OF CLEANING THE CLUBS HAD MADE HIM FEEL DROWSY AND HE WOLD HAVE A NAP IN THE ARM-CHAIR. WHEN SHE COULD NOT WAKE HIM UP AT TEA TIME, SHE FETCHED A DOCTOR WHO ORDERED HIM TO A NURSING HOME AT ONCE, BUT HE DIED THE NEXT DAY WITHOUT REGAINING CONSCIOUSNESS. THE TRAGIC THING WAS THAT HER HUSBAND'S PENSION CEASED WITH HIS DEATH AND THAT WAS WHAT THEY HAD PLANNED TO LIVE ON. LUCKILY THEY OWNED THE HOUSE, BUT TO EKE OUT A LIVING, SHE WOULD HAVE TO LET THE LODGINGS."
MR. WAY REPORTS ON ANOTHER CASE, WHEN "ONCE AN OLD LADY CAME TO SEE ME, AND ASKED WHETHER I WOULD CALL ON HER IN WEST MALL, CLIFTON, TO SEE AN OLD TEA CADDY SHE WANTED TO SELL. I DIDN'T PARTICULARLY WANT A TEA CADDY, BUT AN ANTIQUE DEALER NEVER MISSES AN OPPORTUNITY OF VISITING ANY HOUSE IN THE HOPE THAT HE MAY FIND SOMETHING BETTER THAN THE ARTICLE DESCRIBED. I ALWAYS FOLLOWED THIS POLICY AND FOUND IT SOMETIMES PAID GOOD DIVIDENDS. WHEN I ARRIVED AT WEST MALL, I FOUND THAT THE OLD LADY WAS LIVING IN A ONE BED-SITTING ROOM. THE TEA-CADDY WAS AN UGLY ROSEWOOD VICTORIAN ONE THAT I DIDN'T WANT AT ANY PRICE. HOWEVER, SHE SEEMED TO NEED THE MONEY DESPERATELY, SO I ASKED HER WHETHER SHE HAD ANY LITTLE OBJECTS WHICH SHE MIGHT PUT AWAY BUT WHICH COULD BE VALUABLE; THINGS LIKE MINIATURES, SILVER VINAIGRETTES, SILVER CADDY SPOONS, SMALL ENAMEL BOXES WITH VIEWS OR MOTTOES. AS I CAME TO THE LAST, SHE STOPPED ME EXCITEDLY AND SAID THAT SHE THOUGHT SHE HAD ONE WITH A MOTTO, SO SHE OPENED A DRAWER IN A LARGE CHEST AND BEGAN TO SEARCH IN IT.
"WHILE SHE WAS DOING THIS I LOOKED ROUND THE ROOM AND NOTICED A PHOTOGRAPH OF A HORSE AND WAGONETTE STANDING OUTSIDE AN OLD COUNTRY HOME. AT THE HORSE'S HEAD STOOD A COACHMAN IN UNIFORM, WEARING A TOP HAT WITH A COCKADE. SEATED IN THE DRIVING-SEAT WAS A SMARTLY DRESSED GIRL IN HER TWENTIES, WEARING A BOWLER HAT AND A FACE VEIL AND HOLDING THE REINS AND THE WHIPS; I SUDDENLY REALIZED THAT THE OLD LADY FUMBLING IN THE DRAWER AND THE SMART YOUNG WOMAN OF THE PHOTOGRAPH WERE ONE IN THE SAME. SHE FOUND THE ENAMEL BOX, WHICH UNFORTUNATELY WAS A VERY POOR EXAMPLE, BUT I GAVE HER AS MUCH AS I COULD FOR IT AND LEFT FEELING VERY UNHAPPY. ONE DAY I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM SOMEONE LIVING IN HUGHENDEN ROAD, REDLAND, TELLING ME THE WRITER HAD A PAIR OF PICTURES FOR DISPOSAL AND WOULD I CALL AND SEE THEM. WHEN I ARRIVED, I FOUND IT WAS A QUAINT LITTLE OLD LADY WHO HAD SENT ME THE LETTER. SHE WORE AN OLD FASHIONED BLACK DRESS, WITH A HIGH COLLAR AND ON HER HEAD, A CREAM LACE CAP. SHE REMINDED ME OF QUEEN VICTORIA, AND EVEN HER FEATURES WERE SIMILAR. SHE TOLD ME THAT SHE AND HER SISTER LIVED IN THE HOUSE TOGETHER AND THAT IN THEIR POSSESSION WERE A PAIR OF ITALIAN SCENES BY CANALETTO WHICH HAD BEEN LEFT TO THEM BY THEIR FATHER. HE HAD TOLD THEM ALWAYS TO KEEP THEM INSURED FOR FIVE HUNDRED POUNDS, AS THEY WOULD FETCH THAT SUM IF THEY EVER WANTED TO SELL THEM.
"THE TIME HAD NO COME WHEN THE SISTERS WERE URGENTLY IN NEED OF MONEY, SO THEY HAD DECIDED TO DISPOSE OF THE PICTURES. BEFORE TAKING ME TO THE DRAWING-ROOM, WHERE THEY PICTURES HUNG, SHE CALLED UPSTAIRS TO HER SISTER, AND WHEN SHE CAME DOWN I SAW TO MY SURPRISE THAT THEY WERE ALMOST EXACTLY ALIKE. THEN I WAS USHERED INTO THE DRAWING-ROOM AND THE FIRST SISTER SAID IN A REVERENT TONE, 'THERE THEY ARE.' YES, THERE THEY WERE ALL RIGHT; THE TWO WORST COPIES OF CANALETTO'S WORK THAT I HAVE EVER SEEN. THEY WERE HARDLY COPIES; JUST NOTHING MORE THAN MONSTROUS DAUBS. SO MUCH FOR THEIR FATHER'S ARTISTIC KNOWLEDGE. FROM THE PICTURES, I TURNED TO LOOK AT THE TWO SISTERS. THERE THEY STOOD, LIKE A PAIR OF LITTLE QUEEN VICTORIAS, WITH THEIR QUAINT LACE CAPS AND THEIR EYES FILLED WITH EXCITED EXPECTANCY. FOR ONCE I WAS TOO MOVED TO THEM THE SAD NEWS. I RACKED MY BRAIN FOR AN EXCUSE AND FINALLY SAID THAT I WAS AWFULLY SORRY BUT I DID NOT UNDERSTAND ITALIAN OR ANY OTHER FOREIGN PICTURES, BUT DEALT ONLY IN THOSE OF THE ENGLISH SCHOOL, AND I GAVE THEM THE ADDRESS OF A PICTURE DEALER. THIS WAS, OF COURSE, FRED NEWCOMBE, BUT I NEVER ASKED HIM ANYTHING ABOUT THEM IN CASE HE WAS ANGRY WITH ME FOR HAVING SENT HIM ON SUCH A FRUITLESS JOURNEY."
THIS SCENARIO HAPPENS TO EVERY DEALER AND APPRAISER AT SOME TIME OR OTHER, AND PROBABLY MAKES UP A QUARTER TO A THIRD OF THE CALLS TO VISIT; OR WHEN WE ARE ASKED IN THE SHOP TO MAKE OCCASIONAL EVALUATIONS FOR CUSTOMERS TOTING THEIR WARES. IT IS SUPER EMBARRASSING FOR ONE AND ALL, WHEN WE HAVE TO GIVE THEM THE BAD NEWS; THAT WHAT THEY THINK IS A MING DYNASTY VASE, IS ACTUALLY A REALLY BAD, REALLY CHEAP COPY, WORTH PENNIES IN COMPARISON. IT'S WHEN AN ENTHUSED PAINTING OWNER, SHOWS UP WITH AN ORIGINAL LANDSCAPE UNDER HIS, OR HER ARM, THEY SWEAR IS A MASTERPIECE, THAT WE HAVE TO BE SO CAREFUL ABOUT RELAYING THE NEWS; REGARDING THE FACT IT IS NOTHING MORE THAN A COPY OF A MASTERPIECE, AND A POOR ONE. SOME ARE CRESTFALLEN, AND OTHERS ARE ANGRY, YELLING AT US, THAT WE HAVE MISSED A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO OWN SUCH A FINE PIECE. I REMEMBER ONE YOUNG CHAP, SHOWING UP AT THE DESK, WITH A SILVER PLATED FUEL LIGHTER, PROBABLY FROM THE LATE 1950'S. HE INFORMED ME THAT IT WAS STERLING SILVER, AND WORTH A LOT OF MONEY. I ASKED HIM WHERE THIS INFORMATION HAD COME FROM, AND HE POINTED TO THE NORTH, WITH HIS ARM; AND THAT CLEARLY MEANT ANOTHER DEALER HAD SENT HIM TO US, WITH A LESS THAN ACCURATE APPRAISAL. THIS BY THE WAY, IS CALLED FOBBING-OFF, AND IS DONE ALL THE TIME. SENDING A CUSTOMER, WITH SOMETHING RIDICULOUS FOR SALE, TO ANOTHER SHOP FOR THEIR DAILY ENTERTAINMENT. THE YOUNG MAN WAS ADAMANT, THE LIGHTER WAS ENCASED WITH STERLING SILVER, UNTIL I POINTED OUT TO HIM, THAT THE FINISH WAS NOW MOSTLY ON THE COUNTER IN FRONT OF ME. WELL SIR, THAT FREAKED HIM OUT, AND ALL HE COULD THINK OF AT THE MOMENT, WAS TO SWEEP UP ALL THE SILVER FRAGMENTS, WHICH HAD CORRODED OFF THE DUBIOUS METAL BENEATH, AND TAKE IT WITH HIM, JUST IN CASE HE COULD RE-APPLY THEM TO THE PIECE. HE HAD HIS IDEA OF STERLING SILVER IN THE PALM OF ONE HAND, AND THE LIGHTER IN THE OTHER, WHEN HE LEFT THE SHOP.
THE ONE I ALWAYS RECALL, OF ANNOYING, UNPROFITABLE VISITS, WAS WHEN ANOTHER YOUNG CHAP CAME INTO OUR BRACEBRIDGE SHOP, WITH AN EARLY CENTURY BIKE CLUB PHOTOGRAPH, FROM TORONTO. IT WAS A NICE PIECE, AND THE FRAME WAS DEFINITELY THE STRONG POINT OF THE TWO. I HAD ALREADY APPRAISED IT AS A VINTAGE IMAGE, OF A CANADIANA QUALITY, THAT I WOULD SEE FOR ABOUT A HUNDRED AND FIFTY BUCKS. SO THAT MEANT, I COULD ONLY PAY HALF OF THAT AMOUNT. HE BECAME QUITE AGITATED ABOUT MY EVALUATION, AND INSISTED THAT THE GUY (THE DEALER) DOWN THE STREET, HAD OFFERED HIM FOUR HUNDRED BUCKS, AND THAT HE ALSO SAID, THE FRAME WAS WORTH TWO HUNDRED OF THAT AMOUNT. SO AS I DO OFTEN, IN THIS BUSINESS, I ASKED HIM WHY HE HADN'T TAKE THE OFFER. "I KNEW IF HE OFFERED ME FOUR HUNDRED, THAT IT WOULD HAVE TO BE WORTH DOUBLE OR TRIPLE THAT AMOUNT," HE ANSWERED. "BUT HE TOLD YOU IT WAS WORTH FOUR HUNDRED DOLLARS, AND THAT WOULD HAVE MEANT, HE WOULD HAVE ONLY PAID YOU HALF, OR LESS, THAN THAT AMOUNT." "ANYWAY, HE SAID HE WAS TAPPED-OUT THIS MONTH, AND MIGHT WISH TO BUY IT IN THE SUMMER, WHEN BUSINESS PICKS UP," HE SAID. WELL, JUST SO YOU KNOW, THIS IS A "BLOWING OFF" SITUATION, OF A DEALER WHO WOULD NEVER AGREE TO PAY THAT MUCH, FOR A FRAMED PHOTOGRAPH THAT MIGHT ONLY SELL IN THE SHOP FOR A HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS.
THE YOUNG LAD WASN'T HAPPY ABOUT THE FACT, I DIDN'T MATCH THE OTHER DEALER'S EVALUATION. WHAT HAPPENS, IS THAT WHEN DEALERS SENSE A SELLER IS GOING TO BE MAD, UNLESS THE APPRAISAL IS IN FOUR FIGURES, IT'S COMMON PRACTICE TO GET RID OF THEM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE; AND THAT MEANS DUMPING THEM ON ANOTHER DEALER, WITH THE STATEMENT, "OH, BOY, BILL IS GOING TO WANT THIS PIECE; HE WAS ASKING WHETHER WE HAD ANY, JUST LAST WEEK, WHEN I WAS TALKING TO HIM. HIS SHOP IS ON THE NEXT BLOCK." LIKE I NOTED EARLIER, WE PLAY GAMES LIKE THIS WITH ONE ANOTHER, ALL THE TIME. WHENEVER WE DO THIS, BY GOLLY, WE'D EXPECT A DANDY IN RETURN. "YES, UM, BILL UP THE STREET, SAID YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN THIS PICCASSO I'VE GOT HERE."
ANTIQUE DEALERS HAVE TO BE SHOWN THE ROPES BY SOMEONE - IN PERSON AND BY BIOGRAPHY
"ANTIQUE DEALER," BY R.P. WAY - A 1958 BIOGRAPHY THAT IS STILL RELEVANT TO THE TRADE
I DON'T KNOW IF R.P. WAY, THOUGHT THAT HIS BOOK WOULD BE TIMELESS, WHEN IT HIT THE STORE BOOKSHELVES IN THE LATE 1950'S. HE CERTAINLY WOULDN'T HAVE ENTERTAINED THE IDEA, THAT AN ANTIQUE DEALER, LIVING IN GRAVENHURST, ONTARIO, IN THE YEAR 2014, WOULD HAVE IT NEXT TO HIS LIVINGROOM CHAIR, FOR EASY REFERENCE. THIS NEARLY SIX DECADE OLD BOOK, IS STILL AN IMPORTANT ANTIQUE DEALER BIOGRAPHY, DESPITE THE TIME THAT HAS PASSED. MUCH OF WHAT HE HAS INCLUDED IN THE TEXT, RELATES TO MODERN DAY ACTUALITIES, STILL BEING PRACTICED WITHIN THE INDUSTRY. HIS OBSERVATIONS ARE KEEN AND IMPORTANT, AND A LITTLE HUMOROUS, EVEN THE REVELATIONS OF DECEIT AND CUNNING, THAT ARE TRADEMARK CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PROFESSION, DATING BACK BEFORE THE TIME OF CHARLES DICKENS.
FOR EXAMPLE, DID YOU KNOW ABOUT SECRET COMPARTMENTS BUILT INTO SOME PIECES OF ANTIQUE FURNITURE? ACCORDING TO MR. WAY, "DURING THE YEARS I'VE BEEN AN ANTIQUE DEALER, I HAVE OFTEN COME ACROSS SECRET DRAWERS IN PIECES OF FURNITURE. MANY OF THESE ARE OBVIOUS TO THE EXPERIENCED DEALER, AS FOR INSTANCE, THE TWO PILLARS, OR IMITATION BOOKS, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERIOR OF A BUREAU; BUT THERE ARE ALSO A NUMBER OF CLEVER AND INTRICATE SECRET DRAWERS, THAT TAKE A LOT OF FINDING. I HAVE SOMETIMES TAKEN THE BACK OFF A PIECE OF FURNITURE, TO FIND OUT IF THERE WAS A DRAWER WHICH I KNEW FROM THE MEASUREMENTS I'D TAKEN, MUST EXIST SOMEWHERE."
HE WRITES, "ONE DAY, IN OUR WINDOW, IN PARK STREET, WE HAD A FINE WALNUT BUREAU BOOKCASE, THE DOORS OF THE TOP PART HAVING MIRROR PANELS. A CLIFTON CUSTOMER CAME IN AND ASKED MY FATHER WHAT PERIOD IT WAS, AND HOW MUCH HE WANTED FOR IT. THE BUREAU WAS DEFINITELY OF THE QUEEN ANNE PERIOD, BUT IT HAD MORE SHAPING ABOUT THE DOORS AND CORNICE THAN IS USUAL IN SUCH A PIECE. MY FATHER POINTED OUT THESE DETAILS TO OUR CLIENT AND SAID THAT, HE THOUGHT IT MIGHT VERY WELL BE OF DUTCH ORIGIN. THE CLIENT DIDN'T OBJECT TO THIS AND, HAVING AGREED ON THE PRICE, HE ASKED IF WE WOULD DELIVER IT TO HIS HOUSE THE FOLLOWING WEEK. THE NEXT DAY AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE OF MY FATHER'S, AN AUTHORITY ON ANTIQUES, WHO HAD RECENTLY WRITTEN A BOOK ON OLD ENGLISH FURNITURE, CAME INTO THE SHOP. MY FATHER TOLD HIM ABOUT SELLING THE BOOKCASE AND ADDED THAT, FOR HIS OWN SATISFACTION, HE WOULD BE GREATLY OBLIGED IF THE EXPERT COULD GIVE HIM HIS OPINION, AS TO WHETHER IT WAS REALLY ENGLISH OR DUTCH.
"AFTER CAREFULLY EXAMINING THE DOVETAILS OF THE DRAWERS, THE LOCKS AND KEYS AND THE GENERAL CONSTRUCTION OF THE PIECE, THE EXPERT PRONOUNCED IT UNDOUBTEDLY ENGLISH. HE WENT SO FAR AS TO SAY THAT, IF WE WANTED TO, WE COULD PUT ON THE INVOICE THAT IT WAS HIS OPINION. THE DAY BEFORE WE DELIVERED THE BOOKCASE, I CLEANED IT THOROUGHLY. UNLIKE OTHERS, IT HAD TWO CUPBOARDS INSTEAD OF THE USUAL DRAWERS BENEATH THE BUREAU FALL, AND THESE ENCLOSED THREE SLIDING SHELVES ON EITHER SIDE OF THE CENTRE PARTITION; BELOW THESE WERE THREE SMALL DRAWERS ON EITHER SIDE. "MY FATHER TOLD ME TO PULL THE SMALL DRAWERS RIGHT OUT AND TO GIVE THEM A GOOD CLEANING, AS THEY'D PROBABLY NOT BEEN OPENED IN YEARS. AS I STARTED DOING THIS I NOTICED THAT ONE OF THEM WAS THREE INCHES SHORTER THAN THE OTHER TWO. I KNEW AT ONCE THIS MEANT THERE WAS A SECRET DRAWER BEHIND THE SHORT ONE. I SOON FOUND THAT THE PIECE OF WOOD WHICH SEPARATED THIS DRAWER FROM THE OTHERS WAS NOT FASTENED AS IT SHOULD BE, BUT WOULD SLIDE OUT. WHEN I PULLED IT OUT COMPLETELY THERE WAS A TINY DRAWER FASTENED TO IT. INSIDE WERE A FEW SILVER COINS ABOUT THE SIZE OF SIXPENCE, BLACK AND TARNISHED WITH AGE. I EXAMINED THEM CAREFULLY - THEY WERE DUTCH! SO MUCH FOR THE EXPERT'S OPINION, I THOUGHT!"
THE QUESTION, OF COURSE, IS WHETHER THE COINS WERE GIVEN TO THE NEW OWNER. IF THE PIECE HAD BEEN PAID FOR, WITH MONEY ACTUALLY CHANGING HANDS, IT COULD BE ARGUED, THAT ANYTHING FOUND IN THE CABINET AFTERWARDS, SHOULD BELONG TO THE NEW OWNER. IF IT HADN'T BEEN PAID FOR, THEN THE COINS WOULD OBVIOUSLY STILL BELONG TO THE ANTIQUE DEALER. TO REFERENCE ONE OF MY OWN SITUATIONS, WHETHER SOME WILL SEE ME AS A FOOL OR NOT, I DID RETURN QUITE A NUMBER OF VINTAGE COINS, TO A LOCAL SALVATION ARMY THRIFT SHOP, WHEN I FOUND THEM WRAPPED UP INDIVIDUALLY, INSIDE NARROW MOUTHED CROCK. THE REASON THE THRIFT SHOP PERSONNEL DIDN'T CATCH THIS, WAS DUE TO A LARGE, AND UGLY CLUSTER OF PURPLE DRIED FLOWERS, AND A BIG RIBBON TIED AROUND THE STEPS. THE COINS, BEING WRAPPED IN TISSUE, DIDN'T MAKE A SOUND WHEN THE CROCK WAS BEING MOVED BY STAFF, WHO NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT REMOVING THE FLOWERS BEFORE PRICING. I WAS BUYING IT FOR THE CROCK ONLY, BUT THEY REALLY KIND OF LIKE YOU TAKING THE WHOLE JOB-LOT, AND DISCARDING THE PIECES YOU DON'T WANT, AT YOUR HOME OR PLACE OF BUSINESS INSTEAD. SO WHEN I GOT BACK TO OUR SHOP, I IMMEDIATELY REMOVED THE DRIED FLOWERS, SO THAT I COULD CLEAN THE CROCK. WHEN I PULLED THEM OUT, I FOUND ABOUT THREE INCHES OF WRAPPED ITEMS IN THE BOTTOM. WHEN I STARTED UNWRAPPING THEM INDIVIDUALLY, I FOUND NEARLY FORTY VINTAGE COINS HAD BEEN STORED, BY A FORMER OWNER, IN THE VASE FOR THE DRIED FLOWERS. AS I AM NOT A COIN COLLECTOR, I REALLY COULDN'T EVALUATE THEM, AND TRUTH IS, I HAD DECIDED TO GIVE THEM BACK TO THE SHOP MINUTES AFTER I HAD THEM UNCOVERED. I FELT GUILTY ABOUT KEEPING THEM. SOME OF MY DEALER COLLEAGUES THOUGHT I WAS NUTS FOR TURNING THEM IN. SUZANNE AGREE WITH ME, AND THAT'S WHAT MATTERED THE MOST. I DIDN'T FEEL RIGHT HAVING THE COINS, FOR THE SMALL PRICE OF THE CROCK, AND IT SEEMED A GOOD THING FOR THE THRIFT SHOP, TO BE ABLE TO GET THESE BACK, AND HAVE THEM PROPERLY APPRAISED. AS THEY WOULD USE THE MONEY TO HELP THE LESS FORTUNATE, I KNEW IT WAS MORE IMPORTANT TO THEM, THAN TO ME, WHO HAD NO INTEREST IN COINS. SO I BET YOU'RE WONDERING WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF I HAD FOUND SOMETHING IN THAT CROCK THAT INTERESTED ME MORE. I DO KNOW, THAT I WOULD HAVE INSISTED ON THE RIGHT TO BID ON WHATEVER WAS FOUND, OR THEY WOULDN'T GET THEM BACK. IN THE CASE OF THE COINS, THEY WON, AND I LOST THE RIGHT TO BUY THEM FOR ANY PRICE.
WHEN I APPROACHED THE MANAGER, WITH A SMALL BUT SIGNIFICANT PACKET OF THESE COINS, SHE LOOKED BEWILDERED, AND ALMOST RELUCTANT TO TAKE THEM BACK. WHAT MY CONCERN WAS, MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE, WAS THAT A FAMILY MEMBER WOULD COME BACK INTO THE THRIFT SHOP, REALIZING AFTER THE DONATION, THAT A SECRET STASH HAD ACCIDENTALLY BEEN INCLUDED; THE COINS FOR INSTANCE. AS I KNEW THE TWO LADIES ON THE SALES DESK THAT DAY, AND THEY BOTH COMMENTED ON THE HORRIBLE FLORAL ARRANGEMENT IN THE CROCK, I OF COURSE, ASSUMED THEY WOULD SURELY REMEMBER ME AS THE BUYER. AND POINT THE INDIVIDUAL TO OUR SHOP UP THE ROAD. SO INSTEAD OF HAVING AN INCIDENT, OR BEING CONFRONTED ABOUT THE COINS SOMETIME DOWN THE ROAD, BY A FAMILY MEMBER, I BELIEVED IT WAS EASIER TO HANDLE THE MATTER WITHIN THE HOUR OF GETTING THEM; THAN TAKING ANY CHANCE OF DAMAGING OUR SHOP'S REPUTATION BY KEEPING THEM. I DID ASK, THAT IF THEY WERE TO PUT THEM UP FOR SALE, OR UP FOR THEIR SILENT AUCTION, COULD THEY LET ME KNOW SO I COULD SUBMIT A BID, OR BUY THEM OUTRIGHT. THE MATTER WAS NEVER SPOKEN-OF AGAIN, WHICH FRANKLY, I FOUND A LITTLE ODD. THEY NEVER APPEARED IN THE SHOWCASE, OR AS A LOT IN A SILENT AUCTION. BUT IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
THE ONLY OCCASION WHEN I DIDN'T FEEL QUITE AS GOOD, WAS WHEN I PAID BACK AN ANNOYING SHOP OWNER THE HARD WAY. SUZANNE AND I WERE WANDERING ABOUT A REGIONAL FLEA MARKET, THAT HAD A NICE QUANTITY OF ANTIQUES IN THE MIX OF GENERAL MERCHANDISE. WE WEREN'T IN THE BUILDING FOR MORE THAN A FEW MOMENTS, BEFORE THE OWNER WAS RIGHT ON TOP OF US, TRYING TO SELL US EVERYTHING IN THE SHOP. HE TAILED US THE WHOLE WAY THROUGH THE LARGE BUILDING, AND THE MANY AISLES OF COLLECTABLES AND FURNITURE. WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE, WAS THAT HE ACTUALLY TRIED TO BLOCK US IN, AND I ALMOST HAD TO BULL HIM OVER, TO REGAIN OUR EXIT STRATEGY. WE COULDN'T PICK UP OR LOOK AT A SINGLE ITEM, WITHOUT BEING GIVEN THE PIECE'S QUESTIONABLE HISTORY. HE EMBELLISHED EVERYTHING IN THE SHOP, AND THE PRICES WERE FREAKING NUTS. NEAR THE EXIT, I COULDN'T HELP BUT NOTICE AN INTERESTING ORIGINAL LANDSCAPE, HANGING AWKWARDLY FROM A BADLY DAMAGED FRAME. I IMMEDIATELY KNEW THE IMAGE HAD BEEN PAINTED BY GEORGE THOMSON, BROTHER OF LEGENDARY CANADIAN ARTIST, TOM THOMSON. I HAD SOLD NUMEROUS GEORGE THOMSOM PAINTINGS THAT YEAR, AND HIS WORK WAS VERY FAMILIAR TO ME. WHEN I PICKED IT UP, I KNEW IT WAS ONE OF THOSE FRAMING JOBS, WHERE A SECOND PAINTING HAD BEEN PUT IN THE BACK, INSTEAD OF CARDBOARD. THIS IS COMMON, WHEN YOU BUY AS MANY OLD PAINTINGS AS I DO. SO I WAS AWARE THERE WAS A LITTLE EXTRA COMING WITH PAINTING NUMBER ONE.
I HAD ONLY JUST TOUCHED THE FRAME, AND THE BULGING PICTURES, WHEN THE MAN CLOSED IN ON ME, TO THE POINT OF STEPPING ON MY TOES. I COULD TELL BY HIS BREATH, WHAT HE HAD FOR BREAKFAST, AND THE MEAL THE NIGHT BEFORE. HE SEEMED A LITTLE DESPERATE FOR A SALE, AND OFFERED THE FRAMED ART PIECE FOR TWENTY-FIVE BUCKS. HE DIDN'T ASK ME TO MAKE AN OFFER, SO I TOOK HIS. I PURCHASED THE PAINTING, AND WE PUSHED OUR WAY OUT OF THE BUILDING. WE LITERALLY HAD TO BUMP HIM OUT OF THE WAY TO ESCAPE.
THE GEORGE THOMSON EVENTUALLY SOLD QUICKLY, BUT IT WAS THE FOLK ART DEPICTION OF A SAILBOAT, THAT WAS THE REAL TREAT. IT HAD BEEN FASTENED BEHIND THE THOMSON LANDSCAPE, AND OUTSIDE OF SOME MINOR DAMAGE, IT WAS READY FOR SALE IN SEVERAL DAYS. IT HAD BEEN THE ORIGINAL PAINTING IN THAT VICTORIAN ERA FRAME, SO IT WAS RE-ESTABLISHED THAT WAY. I SOLD THE THOMSON WITHOUT A FRAME, AND THAT ONLY TOOK TWO WEEKS.
"AS AN ANTIQUE DEALER, IF HE IS HUMAN, HAS TO STEEL HIMSELF AT TIMES AGAINST THE SADNESS HE IS BOUND TO MEET IN THE COURSE OF HIS BUSINESS. SENTIMENT CANNOT BE ENTIRELY EXCLUDED, AND SOMETIMES IN PRIVATE DEALINGS, I HAVE FELT THE EMOTION OF PITY STABBING ME SHARPLY," WRITES MR. WAY. "I HAVE SEEN TEARS AND HEARD FRANTIC STORIES OF MISFORTUNE. GENERALLY THIS HAS HAPPENED TO THE VERY OLD AND FRAIL, AND I CAN UNDERSTAND THE MISERY THESE GENTLEFOLK HAVE SUFFERED, WHEN, FOR FINANCIAL REASONS, THEY HAVE HAD TO PART WITH SOME OF THEIR POSSESSIONS, ANTIQUES THEY HAVE LOVED ALL THEIR LIVES. I HAVE SEEN THEM WEEP, AS I BEGAN TO PACK UP A CHERISHED OBJECT. I REMEMBER A DAY IN BLACKWATER, NEAR BASINGSTOKE WHEN I WENT TO BUY A BEAUTIFUL LITTLE PAINTED SATINWOOD TABLE FROM A CLIENT, LADY CARRINGTON. I HAD NOT MET HER BEFORE AND WHEN I PAID HER FOR IT, SHE SAID, 'PLEASE MR. WAY, DON'T TOUCH IT UNTIL I'M OUT OF SIGHT, FOR I REALLY CAN'T BEAR TO SEE IT LEAVE THE HOUSE.' WHAT IS INTERESTING ABOUT THIS ANECDOTE IS THAT LADY CARRINGTON WAS, AT THAT TIME, OVER SEVENTY YEARS OF AGE. SHE HAD ONE RULING PASSION; HER HORSES. ALTHOUGH SHE COULD NOT AFFORD IT, SHE REFUSED TO GIVE UP HER STABLES. I SUPPOSE NEARLY EVERYONE HAS SOMETHING FOR WHICH HEY WILL MAKE ANY SACRIFICES; IN HER CASE IT WAS HER HORSES, AND RATHER THAN BE WITHOUT THEM, SHE WAS PREPARED TO PART WITH MANY OF HER MOST PRECIOUS POSSESSIONS.
"ANOTHER TIME I WAS ASKED TO CALL AT A HOUSE NEAR BLACKBOY HILL, BRISTOL. WHEN I GOT THERE, A LADY SHOWED ME SOME VERY SIMPLE PIECES OF ANTIQUE FURNITURE, FEW OF WHICH WERE WORTH BUYING. I POINTED OUT TO HER THAT THEIR VALUE WAS VERY SMALL. 'BUT,' SHE SAID, 'I'VE GOT TO LET THESE ROOMS AS LODGINGS AND I'LL PROBABLY HAVE TO TAKE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS WHO, I'M AFRAID, WILL USE THESE PIECES ROUGHLY, AND I WOULD LIKE YOU TO FIND THEM A GOOD HOME ALMOST AT ANY PRICE RATHER THAN SEE THEM TREATED BADLY.' LATER SHE TOLD ME THAT A LITTLE WHILE BEFORE HER HUSBAND HAD RETIRED, AFTER FORTY YEARS IN A CITY MERCHANT'S OFFICE, HE HAD COME HOME ON THE DAY OF HIS RETIREMENT, PLEASED HIMSELF WITH A SMALL PRESENTATION MADE TO HIM BY THE STAFF AND LOOKING FORWARD TO THE LIFE OF LEISURE AHEAD OF HIM. LIVING CLOSE TO DURDHAM DOWNS, THEY HAD BOTH BEEN FOND OF PLAYING A GAME OF GOLF ON THE FREE NINE-HOLE COURSE THERE. SO ON THE FOLLOWING DAY, WHILE SHE WAS AT HOME COOKING THE SUNDAY JOINT (ROAST), HE SAID, HE WOULD GIVE THEIR GOLF CLUBS A GOOD CLEAN, SO THAT THEY WOULD BE READY TO PLAY WITH ON MONDAY MORNING. AFTER THE SUNDAY LUNCH, HE SAID THAT HE THOUGHT THE EFFORT OF CLEANING THE CLUBS HAD MADE HIM FEEL DROWSY AND HE WOLD HAVE A NAP IN THE ARM-CHAIR. WHEN SHE COULD NOT WAKE HIM UP AT TEA TIME, SHE FETCHED A DOCTOR WHO ORDERED HIM TO A NURSING HOME AT ONCE, BUT HE DIED THE NEXT DAY WITHOUT REGAINING CONSCIOUSNESS. THE TRAGIC THING WAS THAT HER HUSBAND'S PENSION CEASED WITH HIS DEATH AND THAT WAS WHAT THEY HAD PLANNED TO LIVE ON. LUCKILY THEY OWNED THE HOUSE, BUT TO EKE OUT A LIVING, SHE WOULD HAVE TO LET THE LODGINGS."
MR. WAY REPORTS ON ANOTHER CASE, WHEN "ONCE AN OLD LADY CAME TO SEE ME, AND ASKED WHETHER I WOULD CALL ON HER IN WEST MALL, CLIFTON, TO SEE AN OLD TEA CADDY SHE WANTED TO SELL. I DIDN'T PARTICULARLY WANT A TEA CADDY, BUT AN ANTIQUE DEALER NEVER MISSES AN OPPORTUNITY OF VISITING ANY HOUSE IN THE HOPE THAT HE MAY FIND SOMETHING BETTER THAN THE ARTICLE DESCRIBED. I ALWAYS FOLLOWED THIS POLICY AND FOUND IT SOMETIMES PAID GOOD DIVIDENDS. WHEN I ARRIVED AT WEST MALL, I FOUND THAT THE OLD LADY WAS LIVING IN A ONE BED-SITTING ROOM. THE TEA-CADDY WAS AN UGLY ROSEWOOD VICTORIAN ONE THAT I DIDN'T WANT AT ANY PRICE. HOWEVER, SHE SEEMED TO NEED THE MONEY DESPERATELY, SO I ASKED HER WHETHER SHE HAD ANY LITTLE OBJECTS WHICH SHE MIGHT PUT AWAY BUT WHICH COULD BE VALUABLE; THINGS LIKE MINIATURES, SILVER VINAIGRETTES, SILVER CADDY SPOONS, SMALL ENAMEL BOXES WITH VIEWS OR MOTTOES. AS I CAME TO THE LAST, SHE STOPPED ME EXCITEDLY AND SAID THAT SHE THOUGHT SHE HAD ONE WITH A MOTTO, SO SHE OPENED A DRAWER IN A LARGE CHEST AND BEGAN TO SEARCH IN IT.
"WHILE SHE WAS DOING THIS I LOOKED ROUND THE ROOM AND NOTICED A PHOTOGRAPH OF A HORSE AND WAGONETTE STANDING OUTSIDE AN OLD COUNTRY HOME. AT THE HORSE'S HEAD STOOD A COACHMAN IN UNIFORM, WEARING A TOP HAT WITH A COCKADE. SEATED IN THE DRIVING-SEAT WAS A SMARTLY DRESSED GIRL IN HER TWENTIES, WEARING A BOWLER HAT AND A FACE VEIL AND HOLDING THE REINS AND THE WHIPS; I SUDDENLY REALIZED THAT THE OLD LADY FUMBLING IN THE DRAWER AND THE SMART YOUNG WOMAN OF THE PHOTOGRAPH WERE ONE IN THE SAME. SHE FOUND THE ENAMEL BOX, WHICH UNFORTUNATELY WAS A VERY POOR EXAMPLE, BUT I GAVE HER AS MUCH AS I COULD FOR IT AND LEFT FEELING VERY UNHAPPY. ONE DAY I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM SOMEONE LIVING IN HUGHENDEN ROAD, REDLAND, TELLING ME THE WRITER HAD A PAIR OF PICTURES FOR DISPOSAL AND WOULD I CALL AND SEE THEM. WHEN I ARRIVED, I FOUND IT WAS A QUAINT LITTLE OLD LADY WHO HAD SENT ME THE LETTER. SHE WORE AN OLD FASHIONED BLACK DRESS, WITH A HIGH COLLAR AND ON HER HEAD, A CREAM LACE CAP. SHE REMINDED ME OF QUEEN VICTORIA, AND EVEN HER FEATURES WERE SIMILAR. SHE TOLD ME THAT SHE AND HER SISTER LIVED IN THE HOUSE TOGETHER AND THAT IN THEIR POSSESSION WERE A PAIR OF ITALIAN SCENES BY CANALETTO WHICH HAD BEEN LEFT TO THEM BY THEIR FATHER. HE HAD TOLD THEM ALWAYS TO KEEP THEM INSURED FOR FIVE HUNDRED POUNDS, AS THEY WOULD FETCH THAT SUM IF THEY EVER WANTED TO SELL THEM.
"THE TIME HAD NO COME WHEN THE SISTERS WERE URGENTLY IN NEED OF MONEY, SO THEY HAD DECIDED TO DISPOSE OF THE PICTURES. BEFORE TAKING ME TO THE DRAWING-ROOM, WHERE THEY PICTURES HUNG, SHE CALLED UPSTAIRS TO HER SISTER, AND WHEN SHE CAME DOWN I SAW TO MY SURPRISE THAT THEY WERE ALMOST EXACTLY ALIKE. THEN I WAS USHERED INTO THE DRAWING-ROOM AND THE FIRST SISTER SAID IN A REVERENT TONE, 'THERE THEY ARE.' YES, THERE THEY WERE ALL RIGHT; THE TWO WORST COPIES OF CANALETTO'S WORK THAT I HAVE EVER SEEN. THEY WERE HARDLY COPIES; JUST NOTHING MORE THAN MONSTROUS DAUBS. SO MUCH FOR THEIR FATHER'S ARTISTIC KNOWLEDGE. FROM THE PICTURES, I TURNED TO LOOK AT THE TWO SISTERS. THERE THEY STOOD, LIKE A PAIR OF LITTLE QUEEN VICTORIAS, WITH THEIR QUAINT LACE CAPS AND THEIR EYES FILLED WITH EXCITED EXPECTANCY. FOR ONCE I WAS TOO MOVED TO THEM THE SAD NEWS. I RACKED MY BRAIN FOR AN EXCUSE AND FINALLY SAID THAT I WAS AWFULLY SORRY BUT I DID NOT UNDERSTAND ITALIAN OR ANY OTHER FOREIGN PICTURES, BUT DEALT ONLY IN THOSE OF THE ENGLISH SCHOOL, AND I GAVE THEM THE ADDRESS OF A PICTURE DEALER. THIS WAS, OF COURSE, FRED NEWCOMBE, BUT I NEVER ASKED HIM ANYTHING ABOUT THEM IN CASE HE WAS ANGRY WITH ME FOR HAVING SENT HIM ON SUCH A FRUITLESS JOURNEY."
THIS SCENARIO HAPPENS TO EVERY DEALER AND APPRAISER AT SOME TIME OR OTHER, AND PROBABLY MAKES UP A QUARTER TO A THIRD OF THE CALLS TO VISIT; OR WHEN WE ARE ASKED IN THE SHOP TO MAKE OCCASIONAL EVALUATIONS FOR CUSTOMERS TOTING THEIR WARES. IT IS SUPER EMBARRASSING FOR ONE AND ALL, WHEN WE HAVE TO GIVE THEM THE BAD NEWS; THAT WHAT THEY THINK IS A MING DYNASTY VASE, IS ACTUALLY A REALLY BAD, REALLY CHEAP COPY, WORTH PENNIES IN COMPARISON. IT'S WHEN AN ENTHUSED PAINTING OWNER, SHOWS UP WITH AN ORIGINAL LANDSCAPE UNDER HIS, OR HER ARM, THEY SWEAR IS A MASTERPIECE, THAT WE HAVE TO BE SO CAREFUL ABOUT RELAYING THE NEWS; REGARDING THE FACT IT IS NOTHING MORE THAN A COPY OF A MASTERPIECE, AND A POOR ONE. SOME ARE CRESTFALLEN, AND OTHERS ARE ANGRY, YELLING AT US, THAT WE HAVE MISSED A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO OWN SUCH A FINE PIECE. I REMEMBER ONE YOUNG CHAP, SHOWING UP AT THE DESK, WITH A SILVER PLATED FUEL LIGHTER, PROBABLY FROM THE LATE 1950'S. HE INFORMED ME THAT IT WAS STERLING SILVER, AND WORTH A LOT OF MONEY. I ASKED HIM WHERE THIS INFORMATION HAD COME FROM, AND HE POINTED TO THE NORTH, WITH HIS ARM; AND THAT CLEARLY MEANT ANOTHER DEALER HAD SENT HIM TO US, WITH A LESS THAN ACCURATE APPRAISAL. THIS BY THE WAY, IS CALLED FOBBING-OFF, AND IS DONE ALL THE TIME. SENDING A CUSTOMER, WITH SOMETHING RIDICULOUS FOR SALE, TO ANOTHER SHOP FOR THEIR DAILY ENTERTAINMENT. THE YOUNG MAN WAS ADAMANT, THE LIGHTER WAS ENCASED WITH STERLING SILVER, UNTIL I POINTED OUT TO HIM, THAT THE FINISH WAS NOW MOSTLY ON THE COUNTER IN FRONT OF ME. WELL SIR, THAT FREAKED HIM OUT, AND ALL HE COULD THINK OF AT THE MOMENT, WAS TO SWEEP UP ALL THE SILVER FRAGMENTS, WHICH HAD CORRODED OFF THE DUBIOUS METAL BENEATH, AND TAKE IT WITH HIM, JUST IN CASE HE COULD RE-APPLY THEM TO THE PIECE. HE HAD HIS IDEA OF STERLING SILVER IN THE PALM OF ONE HAND, AND THE LIGHTER IN THE OTHER, WHEN HE LEFT THE SHOP.
THE ONE I ALWAYS RECALL, OF ANNOYING, UNPROFITABLE VISITS, WAS WHEN ANOTHER YOUNG CHAP CAME INTO OUR BRACEBRIDGE SHOP, WITH AN EARLY CENTURY BIKE CLUB PHOTOGRAPH, FROM TORONTO. IT WAS A NICE PIECE, AND THE FRAME WAS DEFINITELY THE STRONG POINT OF THE TWO. I HAD ALREADY APPRAISED IT AS A VINTAGE IMAGE, OF A CANADIANA QUALITY, THAT I WOULD SEE FOR ABOUT A HUNDRED AND FIFTY BUCKS. SO THAT MEANT, I COULD ONLY PAY HALF OF THAT AMOUNT. HE BECAME QUITE AGITATED ABOUT MY EVALUATION, AND INSISTED THAT THE GUY (THE DEALER) DOWN THE STREET, HAD OFFERED HIM FOUR HUNDRED BUCKS, AND THAT HE ALSO SAID, THE FRAME WAS WORTH TWO HUNDRED OF THAT AMOUNT. SO AS I DO OFTEN, IN THIS BUSINESS, I ASKED HIM WHY HE HADN'T TAKE THE OFFER. "I KNEW IF HE OFFERED ME FOUR HUNDRED, THAT IT WOULD HAVE TO BE WORTH DOUBLE OR TRIPLE THAT AMOUNT," HE ANSWERED. "BUT HE TOLD YOU IT WAS WORTH FOUR HUNDRED DOLLARS, AND THAT WOULD HAVE MEANT, HE WOULD HAVE ONLY PAID YOU HALF, OR LESS, THAN THAT AMOUNT." "ANYWAY, HE SAID HE WAS TAPPED-OUT THIS MONTH, AND MIGHT WISH TO BUY IT IN THE SUMMER, WHEN BUSINESS PICKS UP," HE SAID. WELL, JUST SO YOU KNOW, THIS IS A "BLOWING OFF" SITUATION, OF A DEALER WHO WOULD NEVER AGREE TO PAY THAT MUCH, FOR A FRAMED PHOTOGRAPH THAT MIGHT ONLY SELL IN THE SHOP FOR A HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS.
THE YOUNG LAD WASN'T HAPPY ABOUT THE FACT, I DIDN'T MATCH THE OTHER DEALER'S EVALUATION. WHAT HAPPENS, IS THAT WHEN DEALERS SENSE A SELLER IS GOING TO BE MAD, UNLESS THE APPRAISAL IS IN FOUR FIGURES, IT'S COMMON PRACTICE TO GET RID OF THEM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE; AND THAT MEANS DUMPING THEM ON ANOTHER DEALER, WITH THE STATEMENT, "OH, BOY, BILL IS GOING TO WANT THIS PIECE; HE WAS ASKING WHETHER WE HAD ANY, JUST LAST WEEK, WHEN I WAS TALKING TO HIM. HIS SHOP IS ON THE NEXT BLOCK." LIKE I NOTED EARLIER, WE PLAY GAMES LIKE THIS WITH ONE ANOTHER, ALL THE TIME. WHENEVER WE DO THIS, BY GOLLY, WE'D EXPECT A DANDY IN RETURN. "YES, UM, BILL UP THE STREET, SAID YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN THIS PICCASSO I'VE GOT HERE."
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