Hand signing a print is a relatively recent thing, starting in the late 1800s. Original Rembrandt and Durer prints are not hand signed. Durer prints often have his monogram as part of the printed graphics.In modern times, the artist's hand signature on an original print shows that the print was personally approved as finished by … Continue reading Hand signing of art prints

The dull silvery metal can be identified because it contains lead and will make a mark like a pencil on paper.

Did you know that most 1800s photographs are made out of eggs? Photographic prints require a clear substance to both hold the photochemicals to the paper and allow the chemicals to react, or develop, under sunlight. 1800s photographers found that albumen, or egg whites, worked best. Photo paper manufacturers often had chicken farms on site … Continue reading egg photos

In the Middle Ages West, the blue paint ultramarine was as valuable as gold.  Ultramarine was considered a pure, divine color and was extremely difficult to make.  Amongst other things, it was used with genuine gold and vermillon (a type of red) for important illustrated documents, the robes of the Virgin Mary were ultramarine and … Continue reading ultramarine

Straight from a 1950s Sci Fi movie!! Uranium glass is a collectible antique glass that was made with uranium salts. Uranium salts are naturally a bright yellow and they were used to color the glass. Uranium glass ranges from yellow to green, with the green versions having had additional coloring chemicals added. Uranium glass is … Continue reading Radioactive glass

X-ray machines are used to examine paintings in a similar way they are used to examine human bodies.As with ultraviolet and infrared light, X-rays are a form of light invisible to human eyes. X-rays pass straight through some materials, but are reflected or absorbed by others. In the physician's office, the X-ray machine shoots X-rays … Continue reading X-rays in art authentication

When print artists are finished with the limited edition print run, they sometimes intentionally ruin the printing plate to prevent further prints. They may scratch out part of the graphics or make a big X across the printing plate. To prove they've ruined the printing plate and the print is indeed limited, they make one … Continue reading Cancellation proofs

Amber, or fossilized tree resin, is a popular and valuable gem often used in jewelry and often displayed on its own. There is, however, fake amber and other substances that can be mistaken for amber. Amber colored plastics and glass are commonly used to make fake amber. There is also the natural substance called copal … Continue reading Identifying amber

Beyond the changed words, the foreign language translation of a poem alters and often destroys the original poem. With rare exception the translation of a beautiful poem can be similarly beautiful or literally faithful, but not both.Poetry is uniquely tied to the native language-- the unique word definition, culture, diction, rhyme, sound, meter, feel and … Continue reading The impossibleness in translating poetry

Did you you know? Dendrology, or the study of trees, has been used by art historians to help date many ancient paintings. Before canvas, paintings were most commonly painted on panels of wood, and are called panel paintings. Studying the rings in the wood and knowing when certain regional historical conditions such as draught caused … Continue reading Dating paintings via dendrology