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Tips 'N Tidbits
1800s & Early 1900s Bronze Clocks and Sculptures
In the latter 1800s and early 1900s, a lot of the "bronze" used for clocks, sculptural figurines and hanging lights contained substantial amounts--from 25 to 30 percent--of zinc. This made the metal less expensive to use, although items made with this metal were much more brittle than those made with "pure" bronze. However, antiques made from this metal mixture can usually be found in relatively good condition, despite the brittleness of the material.
Antique Bronze Mirrors
Most antique bronze mirrors contain between 30 and 40 percent tin. This makes them hard, brittle and white. This also enables them to be highly polished . . . making them very suitable for their purpose--to reflect the image of the person peering into the mirror!
Bakelite
Bakelite, which was developed in 1909 in the United States and used to produce a wide range of products, was the first totally synthetic-resin plastic. Formed from phenol - a derivative of tar or benzene - and formaldehyde, it was combined with fillers to make a hard, stable, strong plastic with excellent electrical and heat-resistant properties. In the electric appliance field, it was often used for radio and television cabinets. Most were dark brown in color, although some had a "mottled" effect. Later there was a casting type of this resin produced that was either transluscent, or made in many different colors.
Bone Glue
Bone glue, which is made from animal bones, was used by cabinetmakers throughout the 19th and much of the 20th century. It is still preferred by those who repair and restore antique furniture. The glue is made by grinding animals bones into powder, then dissolving the powder in water. As the water evaporates the mixture becomes a hard jelly-like substance. Woodworkers today, and especially those who are restoring or repairing antique furniture, prefer bone glue because
- The original bond can be completely dissolved by applying heat, even after many, many years.
- Repairs can be easily made and mistakes easily corrected by warming the piece--thus softening the bond and making it possible to separate the pieces. By using a little water on the glue areas, the pieces can be rejoined quite easily.
- Bone glue beads, in their solid form, have a virtually unlimited shelf life. Even prepared glue solutions that have been dried out for years can usually be brought back to a state of use by warming the solution and adding water.
- Bone glue dries hard and it does not form a "skin" like other glues.
- Because it is an organic product, it is more fitting for use with wood than synthetic glues.
- Bone glue is environmentally friendly and completely safe for those using it.
Bronze
Bronze is a substance compound (alloy) that is made by combining copper and tin. The ratios of the copper and tin vary greatly--depending on the intended use of the bronze. Most works of art, particularly statues, are made from a combination of 83 percent copper and 17 percent tin. This combination makes them harder and more durable.
Casein
Casein is produced from the protein found in cow's milk. Early in the 19th Century, it was discovered that casein, when treated with formaldehyde (a pungent gas), formed a moderately water-resistant, translucent, rigid and hard (thermosetting) plastic. Casein was produced in a wide range of colors, and it was also used to imitate natural materials, such as tortoiseshell and horn. Most items made from casin are not molded. Rather they are made from solid sections of casein. Most common uses of case was fountain pens, belt buckles, hand brushes and hand mirrors. Some very decorative buttons were also made from casein. Fine crazing on the surface of casein objects might develop. This is because casein will absorb moisture and also dry out. It is best to keep items made from this material out of the direct sunlight. Clean with cotton swabs dipped in a mild, liquid soap solution. Then blot the piece dry with an absorbent tissue. Test a small area of the piece to see if the colors are "fast." You can seal these pieces with a fine film of microcrystalline wax.
Cellulose Nitrate - Celluloid
Cellulose Nitrate, developed in America as celluloid and in Britain as Xylonite, was the first synthetic plasic to be manufactured from natural polymers. It was first developed in the mid-19th Century as collodion, which was used for coating photographic plates and also as a treatment for wounds. This plastic was used to make many different types of domestic items, toys, and also early cinema film. The plastic was made in a large variety of colors. Initially celluloid was produced in America to imitate ivory and tortoiseshell, and when the material is warmed, you can detect a distinct smell of camphor, which was used as a plasticizer while being manufactured. Celluloid is highly flammable and should not be exposed to direct flame. Celluloid should not be kept in a humid environment as that will accelerate its deterioration. Pieces made from celluloid should be placed in a dry and relatively cool area on open shelves or in a ventilated cabinet out of direct sunlight. If you have a decaying piece of celluloid, you should remove it from your collection as it will infect the other pieces close to it. Clean celluloid with a warm, mild liquid soap solution. This solution can be applkied with a soft cloth or cotton swabs. If the item has old wax or greasy deposits on it, you can remove those with paraffin. After washing the item with the soap mixture, dry it with an absorbent paper tissue. You should not apply a surface finish to the cleaned plastic.
Difference in Crystal and Glass
The compositions of crystal and glass are different in that crystal contains lead and glass contains barytes. However, because of its compostion crystal is less elastic and much more brittle, making it very susceptible to chips and breakage.
Genuine Amber
Genuine amber is the resin of fossilized conifers--cone-bearing evergreen trees and shrubs. Most of the amber resin used to produce very old stutues and other items was harvested from the Baltic Sea area. Light amber is the color of honey; dark amber is reddish brown, similar to a caramel color. When rubbed briskly with a wool cloth, true amber has a static response and will attract dust or other particles. True amber will also have a pine resin smell. Be aware that fake amber statues exist, and are still being made from synthetic resins and plastics.
Imitation Bronze
In the early 1900s, imitation bronze was used for many ornamental items, such as mantelpieces. Imitation bronze consisted mainly of tin, mixed with very small quantities of copper, antimony (stibnite) and lead. This combination of metals was much less expensive than real bronze, but had much the same coloring.
Niello Silverware
Niello is a type of silverware that is decorated with engraved designs. These designs are then filled with a black compound. Special care is necessary when cleaning niello as the piece will be damaged if the compound is removed. Never us a dip to clean niello. Lightly clean the surface of the piece with a long-term silver polish. This enhances the decorative design, making it stand out more on the piece.
Ormolu
Ornate, gold-colored pieces - such as candlelabras, clock cases, and fancy metal mounts on the corners of furniture, are likely to be made from gilded cast brass or bronze, known as ormolu. "Ormolu" is French, meaning ground gold. True ormolu has a thin coat of gold over the base metal. However, some examples of ormolu are also simply a fine-polished lacquered brass, or gilded spelter. Ormolu should not be polished because it is easy to remove the surface gilding. Wear on the high points of moldings is acceptable on antique pieces and should not be retouched. If ormolu becomes corroded, it is best to have it professionally restored.
Paris Bronze
"Paris Bronze" is not really bronze at all. It is actually brass with a little lead in it. It is a blend of 88 percent copper, 10 percent zinc and 2 percent lead. Paris bronze is a pinkish gold color, and its excellent working qualkities make it wonderful to use to make jewelry, ornaments, souvenirs and other similar items.
Shellac Objects
Shellac, sometimes spelled shellack, is produced by refining lac. Lac is a resinous substance that is secreted by various scale insects. When melted, strained and rehardened (refined), it becomes shellac. Shellac has most commonly been used as a finish for fine furniture. However, shellac was also mixed with organic fillers - including wood flour and powdered minerals - and made into a moldable plastic. The material was capable of being molded with fine detail. Though it was used to make decorative boxes and picture frames, its most common use was to make old 78 rpm records. When shellac records were replaced by vinyl, some of the old records were softened in hot water and used for making decorative bowls and/or pots. Shellac plastic is very brittle and will distort if subjected to excessive heat. Melted shellac smells like sealing wax. To clean shellac plastics, remove the surface dust with a soft brush. Then wipe the item with a soft cloth that has been dampened with a warm, mild liquid soap solution.
Silver Gilt
Silver gilt is silver that has been electroplated with a thin covering of gold. This is often used for plating hoilloware, jewelry and decorative items.
Spelter
An alloy of zinc and lead, spelte was used in the mid-19th Century as a cheap substitute for cast-bronze statues and ornamental objects. Spelter was either patinated to look like bronze, or it was decoratively painted or gilded. To check whether a bronze-colored casting is made from spelter, make a very small scratch on the underside. If the exposed metal appears silvery, then the casting was not genuine bronze. Spelter should be cleaned and maintained the same way as bronze.
Tinplate
Tinplate is composed of a thin sheet of rolled steel that has been plated on both sides with a thin layer of rust-proofing tin. Tin is a soft, non-toxic metal that is very durable and doesn't corrode easily. As a plating material, it is typically used for food canning in today's market. However, in the mid-19th Century, manufactuers began to tinplate to produce toys.
What is Copper?
Copper is a reddish-colored uncompounded metal that has high ductility and is one of the very best conductors of heat and electricity.
Copper has played a significant part in the history of mankind, which has used the easily accessible metal for nearly 10,000 years. During the Roman Empire, copper was principally mined on Cyprus. A number of countries, such as Chile and the United States, still have sizeable reserves of the metal which are extracted through large open mines.
Numerous copper alloys exist, including bronze (which is a mixture of copper and tin) and brass (which is a mixture of copper and zinc),
What is Gild?
To gild an item means to cover it with a thin layer of gold or a substance that looks like gold. Metals used on genuine antique furniture was often gilded to enhance the beauty of the piece.
What is glass and when was it created?
Although there is a very detailed definition for glass, it can more simply be defined as a supercooled liquid material that is usually clear or translucent with different colors. It is hard, brittle, and stands up to the effects of wind, rain or sun.
Because of the glass objects that have been found in ancient tombs in southern Egypt and Assyria, it is generally accepted that glass objects were first developed during the bronze age. This would place its creation about 3000 BC. Egyptian glass beads date back to about 2500 BC.
Modern glass originated in Alexandria during the Ptolemaic period. Artisans at that time created "mosaic glass" in which slices of colored glass were used to create decorative patterns.
Blown glass was developed in the 1st century BC by glassmakers in Syria.
A large number of glass factories existed in Rome by 200 AD. In these factories, glass was turned on a lathe and also carved. Everyday Roman glassware consisted of drinking cups, perfume bottles and perfume jars. In the catacombs, objects known as "Christian glassware" have been found. These include items engraved with religious scenes and symbols.
White Metal
The term "white metal" is used in reference to various whitish alloys that contain large amounts of tin, lead or zinc. In the early 1900s many ornamental pieces were made of a white metal that was basically zinc coated with a thin layer of bronze. These pieces polish quite well and appear to look and even handle very much like pewter.
Zamac Bronze
Zamac bronze is not really bronze at all. Zamac is an alloy of zinc and lead that was used for a lot of antique decorative items because it was cheap to make and appeared in various patinas. It was also an alloy that was easy to cast or easy to carve.
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