THE HERALD – WEEKEND LIVING

Antiques – ‘Know Your Antiques’ (Jeremy Gow)

By Jennifer Harper

Have you ever bought a ‘bargain’ in an antique shop only to get it home and realise, under closer inspection, that it’s not quite as original as you first thought? This annoyance at being had, often by likeable Lovejoy rogues, is what is driving people from all over the country to Forfar!

On the outskirts of the Angus town you can find a small army of people in a converted barn, plotting their next visit to the auction house or antique shop. The commander-in-chief is Jeremy Gow, a respected dealer and antique furniture restorer. For the past 18 months Jeremy has been teaching members of the public how to date furniture, recognise period styles and markings, spot fakes and appreciate craftsmanship.

“The aim is to give people the knowledge and confidence to invest in antiques and to teach them how to appreciate fine furniture, whether it be in an auction room, their own house or a stately home,” says Jeremy.

His three-day course, aptly called ‘Know Your Antiques’, is held in the converted barn that he also uses as his restoration workshop. This allows him to use furniture being restored as hands-on examples for his students. This is the only course of its kind in the country and, as a result, people from all over the UK travel to Forfar to increase their antique know-how. Ironically, it is not just Joe Public antique enthusiasts who sign up, but also dealers, serious collectors, upholsterers, auctioneers and, recently, three members of Scotland Yard.

Andrew Bain, a farmer from Longforgan, attended one course and was astounded at the mix of people as well as the wealth of information he gleaned.

“There were two ladies from Wales,” he says. “They make tapestries and needed to learn more about the pieces they were re-covering. I was amazed to find people from all walks of life. I have been collecting antiques for around 40 years but Jeremy showed me that you are never too old to learn. Now when I go round shops or auction houses I can identify the wood that has been used on furniture. At the start of the course Jeremy showed us two clocks and asked which was the most expensive. The one that I would not have given houseroom to was actually worth thousands. When Jeremy pointed out the details we could see it was an amazing clock – but before that I wouldn’t have given it a second glance.”

So where do you start when trying to date or identify a piece of furniture?

“Wood,” exclaims Jeremy. “Wood is an enormous subject. Examination of a piece may reveal drawer linings made of an unusual wood, indicating a certain part of the country, or made abroad to a British design. Provincial cabinetmakers might not have had access to some exotic woods and had to make do with what was available. The characteristics of wood can date furniture – for example, West Indian satinwood arrived in the country before East Indian satinwood, so that can help determine an 18^th century piece.”

He adds: “Styles of furniture can also be hard to understand. An early oak joint stool could be made in the style of the 16^th century but made yesterday. Dating furniture like this can be difficult to achieve without handling both an original and modern piece, which is what we do on the course. When comparing pieces, my students can see signs of shrinkage, saw marks, pegging and general wear and tear. Of course, many pieces have some scars, but if they didn’t we would wonder what was wrong.”

Signs of identification, such as a maker’s label, can also solve unanswered questions. Old labels often show the names of the maker, retailer, shipper and place of origin. And Jeremy advises looking in less obvious places – under drawer bases and backboards – to find them. Impressed marks may also be found on the carcass, perhaps on top of the door, drawer or even under a brass decoration, again identifying the maker.

But, what about fakes? Everybody hates to feel they have been done. Would Jeremy ever knowingly buy reproduction furniture?

“I have bought some and I don’t care, if the craftsmanship is as good as the original then the inherent value will appreciate as a long-term investment,” he says. “To produce modern quality takes patience, skill and knowledge – these are all worth paying for, provided you are aware of what you are buying.”

It was the doubt in knowing what she was buying that inspired Veronica Hill, a retired nursing tutor from Melrose, to join Jeremy on the course.

“I did not have a great knowledge of antiques and I have really had to take it on trust that whoever I was buying from was a bona fide person,” admits Veronica. “I really wanted to know more about what I was looking at. Having done the course I now have an insight into period furniture. Jeremy stimulated my interest in the marriage of furniture, where you take a piece of furniture and marry it up with another piece, making it more functional for today’s living. It works very well and I am planning to put that into practice. I can now also identify period details and additions, and generally feel more confident when buying at auction.”

Caroline Robertson, a property manager from Edinburgh, agrees. “I had an awareness of antiques and an interest but not any real knowledge. Up until now I would wander into an auction house or antique shop and not have a clue what I was looking at. The antique world is such a vast subject and I could never be an expert, but at least I now have a better feel for what I am looking at.”

The antiques industry is indeed a minefield when first entering, but even the experts get it wrong sometimes. There will always be someone out there trying to pull off a scam, but with a little extra knowledge it is clear that we could save ourselves some money and heartache. Having said that, the old cliché of ‘it is only worth as much as you are prepared to pay for it’ still stands.