How to Spot Authentic, Hand-Made Wood Sculpture
Consider this: you are on vacation in a charming tiny town in the mountains or at the seaside. You've been eyeing a group of nice-looking wooden statues on the shelf there, wondering how fantastic one of them would look in your home. You know, right there in the living room, near the fireplace, maybe even on the mantle!
Yes, this should be the appropriate wooden carving for your property. It looks to be excellent, it is of a parent who entertains you, and it appears to be a good deal. Is it a genuine woodcarving? It HAS TO BE, since this is the type of art gallery that looks to support interesting originals, right? Let's take a closer look at this woodcarving and the thousands and thousands of people that adore it all around the world.
The Age-Old Debate over Original vs. Reproduction Wood Carvings
So, this may be a replica, so what? Well, that is about an acceptable point...if you don't know a lot about the subject, it's not going to be a huge matter to you. However, if you DO care about the issue of Original vs. Reproductions, then having a unique piece of wood carving on every time you have the 'option' is essential to YOU.
After all, owning an actual wood carving signed by the artist is a joy and honour. You realise it is truly one-of-a-kind. Even if the artist may disagree, this is correct.nal, this piece was once hand-made from begin to finish. The artist took the time (often too much time) to add each and every detail, make each and every stroke personally, and function every step in the introduction process. There is not, and by no means will be an actual replica of your woodcarving.
On the other hand, we are all aware of reproductive restrictions. If you buy one for a specific region in your home, you will not appear to be paying as much as you should for a unique wood carving. Keep in mind that there are countless more. You know it was once stamped out of a mill somewhere on a massive machine. You are also aware that it is one in a million, not one of a kind.
A Little Caustic?
All of this language may look harsh to others, but that is how I perceive art, particularly wooden carving. I've seen several painters attempt to make their reproductions as 'original' as possible by employing trade suggestions. Sometimes they will have originals reproduced, and then the artist would dab on touches of paint to justify the exorbitant costs he charges.
I've also seen this in wooden carving. Over a long period of time, an intricate woodcarving is made. It is cast in bronze and then used as a pattern for creating heaps of others in wood and then painted. To be honest,
Understanding the Difference
So, if you agree with me that an original at a reasonable price is actually valuable, I will show you how to distinguish between the two. Not only will this avoid you the shame of making a significant mistake in judgement, but it will also save you a lot of money!
Let's return to that save in the mountains or on the beach for a while to observe these wooden carvings once again. Let me say in your ear what to appear to be for as you look at the components.
Here are a few excellent woodcarvings on various subjects. A whole shelf of them! Your gaze is drawn to the lineup; there is a historic significance.
Now that I've made my disclaimer, let's get back to that initial timber sculpture. Let us merely consider the 'term' sculpture as opposed to carving. What's the difference here? It might be as simple as the pricing.
Are you familiar with the old comedy anecdote regarding the pronunciation of 'vase'? If it's inexpensive, it's a 'vase,' if it's pricey, it's a 'vase.' That used to make me giggle. It might be the same with a wooden sculpture. If it is inexpensive, it may be referred to as a wooden carving; if it is expensive, it may be referred to as a wooden sculpture. Unfortunately, there is some truth to it. After all, the artwork is definitely prohibited.
1. Experience It
Pick up the wooden carving. How does it make you feel? Is it cold to the touch, or does it appear to be hot? Is it dense or light? Is it smooth, or do the edges have jagged edges? Is the finish spray-painted,' or is it pristine and slick to the touch?
2. Take a close look at it.
Consider what you're looking for. Woodgrain must be visible somewhere on every true woodcarving, even if the subject is painted. Do you notice any evidence of a carving device being present? Do you see the tell-tale evidence of a molded seal beside the item's features? Is it possible to see 'within' grain that has been painted over? When viewed under a strong light, this is virtually a 3D effect that true lumber displays. They haven't found out how to duplicate it yet!
3. Signature, Among Other Things.....
Is the artist's signature or mark applied to the piece? Some replicas are so bad that they neglect the crucial link with the artist who produced the item. Is there a "Made in China" label on it? Don't laugh; some people don't even look and believe they have an original. Is there a script where you can get the production number? As an example, 30/1000. This is the thirty-first item produced from a thousand-piece production: it is no longer real!
4. Examine the Information Tag Attached
Examine the tag that is frequently associated with a one-of-a-kind sculpture. You must constantly monitor these tags and ask yourself, "What is this tag attempting to keep from revealing to me?" Is it clear from the labelling that this artwork is original? Does the waltz tag form round out that statement? Many merchants now prefer not to state that a wooden sculpture is a copy since it will significantly lower the price. People expect to pay far less than 10% for a computer reproduction of a wooden carving.
5. Consult the Shopkeeper
Yes, inquire with the shop's owner. A trustworthy shopkeeper will almost never lie about this, as it might come back to haunt him later. Keep in mind that whether you go to a Flea Market or a storage sale, your chances of finding the truth are much lower!
6. Online purchases?
The Internet is a fantastic resource for discovering wooden sculptures that you might never come across otherwise. When you shop online, employ common purchasing security procedures for credit card information and personal information. It's no longer unsafe; simply don't do anything you wouldn't normally do when purchasing something other than a wood carving on the internet. Dealers in artwork and wooden carvings will not try to take advantage of you online because this is also their source of income. Most will really supply you with written return coverage. Paying using a credit card or even PayPal adds another degree of security for you; if you don't like the woodcarving, you may return it.
7. Conduct Research
Above everything, do your homework! If you plan to spend $1,000.00 on something, I am confident you will go deep enough to satisfy your curiosity. In contrast, most people can spend less than $50.00 on an obvious duplicate of a wooden sculpture without having to spend days researching. There are just too many resources available for you to conclude that you should no longer be able to obtain any documents on the subject. If you're like me, the Internet is your best friend, but even online, you must apply common sense!
So there you have it! Now that you've evaluated the sections on the shelf and are confident that they are safe,