People sometimes ask us how is it that we are able to value and restore antiques and have the skills necessary to undertake restoration of many very valuable items but also to be able to value them.
Well the answer to that is very simple, when you take clocks apart for antique long case clock restoration or an antique chair or item of furniture needs a new leg or a new back, one is aware of the timber used in the original construction also one is aware of the original manufacturers processes when the item was originally made.
This also applies to the restoration of art, you can tell by many methods if the item in question has been restored (sometimes badly), the pigmentation of the paint and methods used in relation to the period should still be correct.
Porcelain restoration or China restoration is something that cannot be undertaken in the original makers or Potters way simply because modern two-part glues are generally used for the repair and then cold glazes and pigmentation are used to disguise the break, sometimes it is possible to fire them very lightly.
If this repair is done very well it is still impossible to notice the break, unless you know what to look for.
When it comes to clock restoration, or horology, wheel cutting was undertaken by hand and in the early years something called the turns was used and the wheels were crossed in a particular fashion if the restoration of a clock is undertaken in the same way or is simply made to look as if you can’t tell the difference as to whether it’s been undertaken by modern machinery or not the value is still consistent with the original process.
In fact restorers are the best at valuing items of furniture and clocks and porcelain etc mostly because they know the restoration techniques involved therefore know exactly where to look.