Many paintings have been reproduced. Reproductions range from the blatantly obvious to the more deceptive. I assume I don't have to explain to you that the Mona Lisa on your umbrella isn't the original. However reproductions can be more realistic, can be on canvas, framed and even with fake brush strokes. A number of well … Continue reading Identifying reproduction paintings

Though its value has fallen a bit in recent years, the pictured 1933 Goudey #106 Napoleon Lajoie has traditionally been one of the most coveted baseball cards due to its rarity. It was produced during the American depression as part of a colorful 240 card set by The Goudey Gum Company, a Boston manufacturer of … Continue reading Manipulative gum companies and a famously rare baseball card

Similar to the problem with translating poetry is the problem in trying to present old works of arts in modern times.Many wish to present a Shakespeare play or Verdi Opera the way it was originally presented, and there are complaints about colorizing old black and white movies.Advocates of original presentation often refer to a work … Continue reading Presenting old art ‘authentically’

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