Antique dishes: types and nuances of choice

Antique dishes are diverse, beautiful and unusual, the spirit of an era hovers in it, it reflects the culture of our ancestors. Individual pieces are so luxurious that they are recognized as real works of art. Dishes related to antiques are expensive and can only be found at collectors or in special shops selling items of great historical value.

Antique dishes these days are most often bought by collectors and lovers of antiquity. In order to avoid confusion, we will immediately determine the basic terms.

In accordance with the law of the Russian Federation “On the export and import of cultural property” all items produced more than 50 years ago are considered antiques. Such products may not be taken out of the country without special permission, even if they do not cost a lot of money.

Rather, it is a formal term, while for collectors, a concept such as rare thing. This category includes such antiques for which the determining factor is not production time, but historical value - it can be the name of the master, the fame of the first owners, a unique production technology or a limited edition.

In the old days, dishes were made from a variety of materials. In Russia, kitchen utensils made for many centuries from wooddecorating them with paintings, carvings and patterns. Most often used to create cutlery pine, spruce or birch, and the most expensive was considered utensils from burls.

At the end of the 9th-beginning of the 10th centuries pottery was developing rapidly, while it became widespread clay dishes. It was produced on a potter's wheel in the form of a cylinder, cone or oval.

C XII century among the Russian and European nobility began to be popular silverware sets. They were very much appreciated, considered real luxury goods and passed on from generation to generation as family jewels. Aristocrats decorated spoons, cups and plates with their emblems and commemorative inscriptions.

Such dishes were varied, for example, each spoon had its own purpose. As a rule, all objects from the table set were decorated with ornate patterns, floral ornaments and images of figures. Silver dishes have always been considered a sign of luxury, noble origin, wealth and invariably testified to the impeccable taste of service owners.

In the pre-revolutionary era received circulation copper and bronze sets, but porcelain cutlery was especially valued - now collectors in different countries of the world are “hunting” them and the cost of such sets is very high.

Vintage is very expensive, some unscrupulous sellers use it, offering fakes to inexperienced collectors. In order not to become a victim of fraud, you need to thoroughly study the information about the product offered to you and the features of the era in which it was produced.

• Match the patterns on the dishes with the pictures on the Internet. This is especially true for those buyers who do not know the name of the manufacturer of the dishes. The fact is that many patterns are the distinction of individual masters, so it is important to make sure that the unique features and ornaments are identical. For example, in a factory Haviland made dishes with delicate floral decors, and at the enterprise Wedgwood The leading theme has always been scenes from the ancient Greek epic or portraits.

• Evaluate the general features of the kit. A vintage service always costs more than one item. It is necessary to know that cutlery with a similar pattern is not always part of one set. Therefore, it is very important to pay attention not only to the similarity of shapes, patterns and sides, but also to details: for example, identical objects should always be kept in the same color scheme, and the glazed coating should be of the same quality.

• Look for the stigma. This is the best way to identify the manufacturer of antique dishes, but it also happens that over time the mark fades and becomes illegible. Nevertheless, you need to look for it - usually marking is placed on the back of the cutlery. As a rule, this is an inscription, brand or stamp. In order to find out the approximate cost of the kit you are offering, you need to find information about similar devices at online auctions.

• Learn the story. In different historical eras, different ornaments were popular. So, at the beginning of the last century, floral patterns with purple and pastel colors were in demand. Almost all cutlery had a curly rim.

In the 20-40s of the last century, dishes were different strict geometry of shapes and vibrant colors. At this time, light beige gilt or silver plated appliances came to the fore. In the 40-50s, products of saturated shades of blue, red and green colors are more common.

In the 50-70s, he enjoyed popularity. gilded porcelain. In this period, pastel shades returned to fashion, but they were already more muffled than in the pre-war period.

All the necessary information about the approximate cost of an old table service can be obtained in libraries or through information sites on the Internet. But you should not resort to the services of online appraisers, no matter how attractive the prices for their services may seem. The fact is that for a comprehensive assessment of the cutlery, it is not enough to see the photo, you need to pick up the item in order to correctly determine its condition. Auction houses are also best avoided: most likely, they will try to tell you the increased cost.

Usually it takes about a month to evaluate antique dishes. A professional must provide his client with a written report indicating the description of the product, an overview of the methods used to determine the cost and the final price.

You will learn more about how to distinguish real Greek porcelain from fake from the next video.