How to identify authentic antique

Testing Authenticity Of Antiques with a Black Light

Again, we return to the old Latin saying, “caveat emptor.” As we discussed earlier, the buyer must truly beware when it comes to antique purchases. Although those who populate the antique hobby industry are, by and large, honest people, there are many buyers who have fallen victim to inappropriately repaired or outright fabricated items.

Authenticity is essential in collecting antiques. The wonderful tin toy onemight find in exceptional condition may be a real bargain at the asker’s price, but when one discovers the “Made in Occupied Japan” nomenclature was a recent addition by an unscrupulous person, the financial loss and disappointment can be quite frustrating!

One must learn to find ways to authenticate the items they are considering. Using a reputable antique dealer is one great way to reduce the likelihood of being taken, but even the best dealers may be unwittingly peddling bad items. As such, buyers should try to find other ways help make them sure they are purchasing exactly what they believe they are purchasing.

The process of determining authenticity can often be daunting for the new antique collector.

Black lights can be used to help determine the genuineness of an object. The reasons black lights are used are because the ultraviolet rays produced react differently to different materials.  Using a black light can make things that are invisible to the naked eye appear easily. Black lights can reveal repairs, reproductions and fakes.

If you are considering using a black light to determine the authenticity of your antique piece, please note that you should purchase a long wave black light. Short wave black lights are damaging to your eyes and your skin. Following are some of the most common methods for using black lights to determine the validity of an antique.

Black lights can be used to detect porcelain repairs. If you are considering purchasing a piece of porcelain (or selling one), then always test it with a black light. Repair jobs on the item may not be visible to your naked eye. If an item has been repaired, the glue used will fluoresce under the use of a black light. Modern paints will also appear under black light so it is easy to spot any touchups done with paint.

Along the same lines, black lights can be used to test the quality of suspected antique paintings. If a painting fluoresces under the black light then it is undoubtedly painted in modern times. Also visible with the use of black lights are hairline cracks in oil paintings. Additionally, you can use the method to check for repairs done to the piece in
recent times. For those who are interested in collecting art exclusively, there are several books available which detail other methods for testing artwork with the black light.

Paper products such as old postcards, books, signs and photos can also be verified using a long wave black light. Most paper products made before 1930 will not fluoresce under the black light. The chemical processes used in modern paper products will glow and reveal the manufacturing date.  Forged documents and reproductions can be identified using this method. Have any rare paper memorabilia tested by an expert before making a purchase. There are complicated techniques beyond black light testing that can help determine the authenticity of the rare memorabilia.

Reproduction glass can be tested using the black light method. Green Depression Glass and Vaseline glass will glow under a black light. This is because of the uranium oxide content in the glass. American colorless pressed glass manufactured before 1930 will fluoresce yellow under the use of the black light.

American brilliant cut glass may also glow yellow, but it is also reported that it casts a pale violet or blue light when a black light is used. To get the best determination of authenticity, follow up any black light testing of cut glass with further research.

Textiles can be dated using black light. Modern fibers such as rayon and polyester will fluoresce under the light. This can help in dating quilts, vintage clothing, stuffed animals, dolls and other items made with cloth and thread. Sometimes reproductionists will use old fabric and new thread so the thread will fluoresce under the black light. Additives in modern laundry detergent, however, can cause older fabrics to fluoresce if it was cleaned with these detergents. As with other antique areas, it is advisable to supplement the black light testing with research and other tools.

In authenticating cast iron from the early 1900s you can also use a black light. Many items such as vintage banks, door stops and mechanical toys were made from cast iron. Finding these items with their original paint is a great find for antiques collectors. Knowing that modern paint will fluoresce, you can use a black light to test your item for its authenticity. You can also identify repairs made with paint to your cast iron pieces. If the paint doesn’t glow, you can also look for other signs of wear and aging on the cast iron piece.

Use of a black light is one of many valuable authentication techniques. Others abound, depending upon the exact nature of the collectible under consideration. If you plan to specialize in the collection of a certain type of antique, it will be in your best interest to learn several methods of authenticating items unique to the field.

Remember, “sniffing out” a phony is not necessarily easy. Even some of the world’s most renowned museum curators have been fooled by careful imitations and fakes. One should not feel foolish if they make a bad decision when faced with a clever reproduction. They should, instead, learn from their errors and seek out other tools and means by which to protect themselves in the future.