Wednesday, March 20, 2013

TREASURE DETECTIVES AUTHENTICATION OF STRADIVARIUS VIOLIN UTILIZED THE UV BLACK LIGHT - Learn more


LAST NIGHT’S EPISODE OF TREASURE DETECTIVES ON CNBC DEALT WITH THE AUTHENTICATION OF A STRADIVARIUS VIOLIN AND ONE OF THE “TESTS” OR METHODS OF EXAMINATION UTILIZED THE UV BLACK LIGHT.


The UV light is a standard method of inspection (or should be!) among vintage painting collectors and art conservators to help see invisible clues in the surface varnish layers. It’s interesting though that most painting collectors mistakenly consider the UV black light a simple method to understand/read. Perhaps that’s because a black light is commonly available to anyone for a reasonable price while other methods of analysis are more expensive and require more expert knowledge. In other words, there is MUCH more to see than just some purple spots that may be retouching.
 
 Here is what I hope is a good review of the use of a UV black light for looking at antique paintings. (Click on the link/colored words) However, a UV light is VERY useful for looking at and inspecting all antiques and collectibles…. I hear they are also useful for seeing scorpions in the dark.

Here is the link to this complete article at Tips for Art Collectors. Generally, thumbs up to Treasure Detectives for making a technical show entertaining. I’m a fan and stay tuned… I’m also in an upcoming episode!

Questions? Call Scott M. Haskins, art conservator at 805 564 34387
Art appraisal questions? Call Richard Holgate at 805 895 5121

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Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Fake Art... I inspected 3 of them today before noon!


Treasure Detectives TV program is on CNBC tonight... this is the second episode in this new season pilot... should be fun to watch.  We deal with the problem of fake art all the time: Today in the lab, I had to "debunk" or pass a verdict of "FAKE!" on three paintings... all before noon! One was supposed to be by Matisse, one by Franz Bischoff and another by Maynard Dixon. My gosh they were horrible. The lady had bought them after she did research in the internet.

Sold on Ebay as a real painting, turns out that it was a print


Not only don't people know what they are buying but they don't know what they are selling. Ebay is awash with bogus art. Of course, I'm giving some of these people the benefit of the doubt and I'm saying they're just idiots and not fraudulent.

I could write volumes on fake paintings that have passed my way. Some of the stories are great. One of the techniques I use to examine the condition of art is ultraviolet light. Do you know how to use a black light when inspecting paintings? Here's a quick video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KeR8_u5qSJM

Questions? Call Scott M. Haskins at 805 564 3438
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Friday, March 8, 2013

Treasure Detectives on CNBC was fun tonight!


Check out Treasure Detectives on CNBC. The show this evening was fun stuff: https://www.facebook.com/TreasureDetectives

Did I tell you that they will be doing an episode with me evaluating art with Curtis (the host) with infrared? They saw my short video and "had to have me." Here's my short vid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxOqa-Aa9Nk