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Antiques! => Antique Questions Forum => Topic started by: edweather on September 29, 2009, 04:53:03 PM
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That is the question. I have a wood antique thermometer 6"x75" with a painted white face. It dates probably from before 1850 and is most likely French. It has a lot of ornate carving on it. Like an idiot, about 15 years ago I cleaned a small area of the painted face (6"x6".) I used a damp cloth to take off a little dirt. I'm sorry I touched it. Today I went to a restorer and they said they could try replacing the dirt or clean it, whichever I wanted to do but they couldn't tell me which would be best and that I would have to have a professional look at it. Any suggestions would be much appreciated. I also would like to know how to get a fair appraisal, so I know if it's worth sinking any $ into it. I live in the Syracuse NY area and could post photos if necessary. Thanks
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Ed any damage to the face is a no no. a restorer could most likely fix that in a jiffy. to clean it No. the others will be along shortly. they will give and opinion. and thank's for joining us. :)
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Thanks. The conservator (westlakeconservator s.com) that I visited today, told me I'd probably be looking at about $300 or so to restore the area I cleaned. I'm assuming that the only damage I did was in removing some surface dirt from the painted surface.
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Sorry you made a costly decision but I think everyone has a story like this one.
Sounds like $300 is a lot though.
If you get a chance post some photo's
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$300 seems like a lot to me too. They said they have to test it, document it, take photos, etc. They seem professional. I don't have many choices in this part of the country, Syracuse NY. I'd like to post some photos. It's been a while. Could you remind me the how to do it. Thanks.
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duh, I'll read the STICKY!
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I hope to see this as well. You must have scrubbed pretty darn good..... I wouldn't recommend cleaning if you want to retain age/authenticity.....but lets take a look see.
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Without actually seeing your item , I'd guess that the price the Conservator quoted you is really 'in the ballpark' for the kind of work needed to bring the item 'back' to it's original "pre-cleaned" condition/patina .
Every professional Conservator I've dealt with , over several decades , use a 'standardized' set of tables to calculate the area ( of whatever material ) in need of conservation &/or restoration , in regards to price of each service they provide - it does not matter if it's a Van Gogh or a crayon drawing from a kindergardener .
It's usually calculated in square inches ( sometimes in square centimeters too ) , and sometimes prices will vary a bit , between Art Conservators in the same region .
In light of the fact that that restoration , as well as conservation , are services that might be needed for your total item (approx. 450 square inches) , that's less than a buck per square inch .
You could , of course , purchase books and study the processes you'd need to know about for a few years . Purchasing the tools and materials for actually performing the work , you could then buy some cheapo items to practice your new skills upon in the ensuing years (prior to attempting work on the item in question) .
I've studied a few processes for specific types of artwork myself , and where I don't feel competent enough , I just call in the 'Pros from Dover' .
In my early years of 'antiqueing' I've goofed-up in many ways that I don't today , and I now consider my many errors as real "learning opportunities" that have great value to me now .
That's my 2 centavos worth .
Welcome to the forum , edweather .
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Thanks for the feedback. I will post some photos as soon as I take some. It might take a few days...I'm working a lot this week. You'll see the area I cleaned. I didn't scrub at all. Like I said, I just used a damp cloth and wiped some dirt from the painted surface. No paint came off, just dirt. You'll see.
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Doesn't sound like you removed any of the finish and you stopped before it really made a difference.
Maybe it won't be a big issue at all.
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I don't believe you ruined the finish unless you really hammered it....however....I can make that area dirty again for $250! :)
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Let's get the bidding started ... I'll get it dirty again for $225.00 .
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Funny
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I started a new thread for the photos, but forgot to rotate some of them. So here are some easier to look at. The thermometer has the mercury but doesn't work. The vaccuum in the tube was lost sometime along the way. You can see the lighter area that I tried to clean. It's a little above half-way up on the thermometer.
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Wow,Thats really nice.
IMO it doesn't look all that bad and would think it would be of more value left alone.
How bad does the the spot bother you?
I'd rather have a antique with a honest small cosmetic defect like this, than one which has been restored and carrying a questionable aspect to it.
If you were to have the resoration done, I'd definately put it into a well qualified professional's hands.
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I agree, don't clean it anymore or have it restored, ..... unless you are going to keep it and prefer it one way or the other.
If you decide to sell it then just tell any potential purchaser "that's the way you found it", .... just don't tell them "it was after you started cleaning it".
Let the buyer decide if they want it cleaned or restored.
It looks to be a museum piece to me, ...... or for a Historical Society's renovated/reconditioned dwelling.
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edweather, I'm curious to know what the wording is below the lower ornate detail.
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I don't think I would spend $ 300.00 for restoration. it's worth about $350.00 as is.
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Agree with Dean...it looks "authentic" with the "dirt".
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IMO this is the type of item that might do great if at a auction with a reserve if you could bear to sell it at all.
If I could find something like this for $350. I'd be smiling for years thinking what a great deal.
Everyone will have a opinion as to wheter or not to clean,leave alone,or restore but for me that aging and un-messed with look really makes the piece.
I look at it as you can't honestly add the aging but you can always take it away at any time.
Cougars post on this IMO is very well said.
It would be interesting to get the wording into sapphires hands and see what she could possibly dig up on this awesome item.
Really beautiful desirable thermometer with allot going for it.A pleasure just to see something like this.
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Thank you very much for your feedback. As for the wording....all the words I can make out are in french, and related to weather and temperature (no dates or maker). Some of the words appear to be painted over and I can't make them out. The dark area at the top is carving. I did some construction work for Tony Victoria in NYC (Frederick P. Victoria and Son, Inc.) back in the late 1980's and for partial payment I choose this thermometer. It came with documentation as follows: "A very unusual antique 19th century thermometer executed in carved painted and gilded wood. This thermometer was reputedly made for the Chateau of Fountainbleau after the return of the monarchy, circa 1835. The carved fleur de lis motifs on the sides and the sunburst and Apollo mask at the top lend weight to this association." Tony told me that it's been in his family for a long time and he remembered it from when he was a child . There is a little paint chipping on the front and some mildew on the back. The original price tag on it was $16,000, which I think is crazy. I had a auctioneer tell me it was worth $200. I guess it's worth somewhere closer to the $200. I got the thermometer in exchange for about $2000 worth of work. I'm a meteorolgist now and at the time I just really liked it and wanted it. I don't think I'll sell it and I'll probably not touch it anymore, and leave it as is for now. Thanks so much again for the feedback. There are a few more photos on the "here are the photos" thread. Edward
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Hi Ed-
Rest assured it's worth more than $200 dollars cause I'd give you more than that for it.
There are collectors for this type of thing (antique & thermometer) and it is a awesome piece.
I wouldn't sell it either and definately not for the price this auctioneer told you.I don't think that was a accurate price at all.
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Totally agree...if in fact the info is correct it is worth more than $200 but agree with you that it isn't worth $16,000.
I am so darn curious.....if you could try and post the french words. One of my daughters speaks French.....so I can let her have a stab at it if you can make any out!