Remember we meet on the 2nd Wed of the month.
President: Margaret Spowart 358-3264
Treasurer: Janet Porton 348-6635
Secretary: Phillip Cooke 389-6192
WEDNESDAY, 10 February 2010
7.45 pm at Philatelic Centre, 67 Mandeville Street, Riccarton
Your Committee would like to warmly welcome you all back to another interesting, entertaining and edifying year of antique club meetings. So that you don't lose track of our monthly meetings, a list of dates for you to mark on your diary or calendar is enclosed.
The first meeting of the year will be on Wednesday 10 February when Eileen Rennie will talk about silver. Silver is a wide ranging and ever popular area of collecting, Please feel free to bring along a couple of pieces for Eileen to cast an eye over.
Members enjoyed a great day out on December 13 when the Club bus outing took us to some wonderful Canterbury places that many of us had never heard of before. Wasn't it a lovely garden and a fascinating collection of little things to see and buy at Country Miniatures at Waddington? The museum at Glentunnel was interesting. We thoroughly enjoyed Cotons Cottage (an 1864 rammed clay cottage) and museum at Hororata, preceded by afternoon tea at the Hororata Club.
At the November meeting we enjoyed a talk by Roger Kelso of Westende Jewellers, Manchester Street, who has been in the jewellery business for 40 years. He explained that he was first and foremost a gemologist and had to obtain qualifications in Germany because there is nowhere in NZ where one can gain this knowledge. The layperson may think that all rubies are red and all diamonds are white, but that is not the case at all. It is a very complex area of learning, especially now that there are synthetic stones which look just like the natural ones. Roger proved to have a wealth of knowledge about jewellery valuation and kindly commented on pieces that members had brought along. He advised us to check that our insurance covers for replacement or indemnity value.
A proposal will be put forward at the AGM in May to change the name of the Club to Canterbury Antique and Collectables Club and therefore members are advised in advance of this intention.
New Books in the library are Millers - Collecting Silver: The Facts at your Fingertips and British Porcelain by John Sandon.,
COLLECTING SILVER
Where you start will depend on two major factors: first and foremost what appeals to you, and second, what you can afford. Other points to bear in mind are how much space you have available in which to display your collection and how much time you can devote to cleaning. Even if space and time are limited, the choice is vast. Some collectors concentrate on a particular period or decorative style such as Rococo, Neo-classical, Georgian, Regency, Victorian or Art Nouveau. Others collect silver from well known maker or perhaps commemorative pieces. Some concentrate on particular items, e.g. teapots or candlesticks. A favourite among novices are small modestly prices objects such as vesta cases, caddy spoons or wine labels.
Always buy the best you can afford. Good quality and pristine condition do not come cheap but they do hold their value. Try to buy siver that is as near to original condition as possible. Avoid pieces where armorials or initials have been polished out or which have been repaired or restored. You should obtain and keep receipts for all your purchases, with details of where and when you bought the piece, from whom, and the price you paid, plus any information about condition and restoration. Not only will such detailed information be helpful for insurance purposes, it will also help you keep abreast of market trends and see whether you collection is a costly addiction or a profitable pastime.
Storing Silver
When putting silver into storage, it is not necessary to clean or polish it. After prolonged storage, it will need cleaning anyway. Do not use ordinary newspaper to wrap the silver, nor use elastic bands to bind several pieces together. After a while the rubber will bond to the silver as the band deteriorates and rots, leaving a stain, as will newspaper. Instead, use acid-free paper to wrap items and store where it is not damp.
Slightly tarnished sterling silver will easily renew to a bright polish by simply rubbing or buffing with a soft cloth. When an item is heavily tarnished then a proprietary silver cleaning solution, such as Goddard's Silver Dip will always do the trick.
To remove heavy tarnish there are many liquids and creams available that are rubbed or smeared on and polished off again with a soft cloth. Many have names that include the terms, "long term", "tarnish resistant" or "long shine". This means they contain a chemical that leaves a protective layer on the silver, which reduces its direct contact with the air. Cutlery should therefore be washed thoroughly before use.
A WARNING ABOUT SILVER PLATE! Always use the least abrasive option when dealing with silver plate. Over enthusiastic rubbing will remove the silver to reveal the base metal, especially on external corners and the rims of lids etc. Any trip to any antiques fair will reveal many, many items that have suffered this fate, which can be expensive to repair.