CONDITION

Each piece is sold "as-is” or “as seen online”, however I take great care to note any flaws or faults in the 'Condition' section. Each piece is checked over fully and researched to insure its integrity at the point of sale.

Please read the item description carefully and look over all the images - these all form part of the description and condition


Please remember that the pieces I sell are antique, vintage or even ancient relics from antiquity and therefore second, third or fourth hand etc. This is all part of their charm and story - they have lived a long life usually and developed a patina and ware that I keep where possible. This ware is seen as highly desirable by the trade.



An antique is only original once after all so please make allowances for time related ware, which is actually a compliment to its age

PORCELAIN

Antique  porcelain is never totally perfect. In Britain, for example, kilns were fired on coal in the 1800s, and this meant that china from that period can have some firing specks from flying particles. British makers were also known for their experimentation, and sometimes this resulted in technically imperfect results. Due to the shrinkage in the kiln, items can have small firing lines or develop crazing over time, which should not be seen as damage but as an imperfection of the maker's recipes, probably unknown at the time of making. Items that have often been used for many years and can have normal signs of ware. Gilt can also have signs of slight disintegration even if never handled.



Porcelain imperfection should not be regarded as damage but that of the marker's recipes. It is normal for china to have some signs of the makers craft

METALS & JEWELLERY
Metal such as silver is a softer compound and usually older pieces will have some age related pitting, which is quite natural. The preference today is to leave brass and copper with a more natural, duller patina. I never polish these materials and only clean with a fine dry cloth.

Antique jewellery can have older style clasps so need a little care when attaching to garments to avoid breaking any fittings. All jewellery will be sent as wearable but a delicate hand is needed when fixing to clothes.

OTHER MATERIALS
Other materials such as as leather will always have a natural patina in the form of creasing and ware. I recommend annual waxing to ensure no moisture is lost. Hand dyed leather is not recommended to sit in direct sunlight for prolonged periods of time as it will dry out and fade. 

REPAIRS
I will always reflect any damage, repairs, obvious stress marks, heavy crazing or heavy ware in the item description, but some minor scratches, nicks, stains, gilt disintegration, pitting can be normal for vintage and older items and need to be taken into account.
 
DAMAGE
There can be some confusion about the difference between chips and nicks, or hairlines and cracks. I will reflect any damage as truthfully as I can, i.e. a nick is a tiny bit of damage around 1mm and a chip is something you can easily see with the eye; a glazing line is a break in the glazing only; hairline is extremely tight and/or superficial and not picked up by the finger; and a crack is obvious both to the eye and the finger. I hope this helps.

In some cases it can be best to leave a slightly damaged piece unrestored. Originality is becoming more and more important. Most buyers prefer conservation to over restoration