Description:
To the inexperienced, buying antiques can be about as stressful as a trip to the dentist. How do you correctly identify antiques? How can you spot the genuine article and not be fooled by a fake? What is an appropriate price for the piece you want? In A Closer Look at Antiques, Judith Miller answers all those questions, plus a few more. Miller, cofounder of the popular Miller's Antiques Price Guide and whose previous books include the bestselling Miller's Antiques Encyclopedia, begins with a handy guide to identifying different styles--including Baroque, Rococo, Neoclassical, Federal, Regency, Victorian, Arts & Crafts, Art Nouveau, Edwardian, and Modernist. She notes the characteristics that define each style and offers detailed photographs to illustrate. The furniture timeline that follows helps put it all into perspective. The rest of the book examines pieces in terms of styles, types, methods for determining authenticity, and evolution throughout history. "The Story of the Table," for instance, tells of the evolution of this ubiquitous piece of furniture, from a plank of wood resting on a trestle that served as a portable table in the Middle Ages through the 18th century's tripod tables to the large central dining tables that served prosperous middle-class families in the Victorian era. "Types of Chinese Ceramics" details the Celadon, Wucai, Qingbai, Blanc-de-Chine, Famille Verte, Doucai, Peachbloom, and Famille Rose ceramics found throughout China. Miller details the period in which each type was made and the distinctive characteristics of each. Miller devotes sections to each of the major categories of antiques-- furniture, ceramics, silver, and glass--making this a truly comprehensive guide. Value codes are included for each of the antiques featured, serving as a rough guide to what one can expect to pay for a similar piece. A glossary of terms and an "A-Z of People and Places" are exceptionally handy reference tools. --Robin Donovan
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