The price of workmanship

[newt]

Because of a back problem I have been forced to watch daytime TV. I quite like the furniture auctions but I am often astonished at how cheaply some furniture goes for. There have recently been some quite ornate pieces, lots of carving, god knows how many hours went into making some of them and they sell for £40, the wood would cost a great deal more. It is almost sad to see all this work that happens to be out of fashion going for a song. And then there is the big surprise, along comes a table with a veneered top, just like a lot of others and it sells for £1500, just because the name of the maker. I guess this is no different from any other art form its the name that matters. I assume the expensive stuff is being bought as an investment and its use is of secondary importance. Strange old world.

 

[Paul Chapman]

I think the World of antiques is a nonsense. You get situations on The Antiques Roadshow where someone will bring in a painting. The "expert" says he is not sure who painted it. If it was this bloke, then it's worth £5,000. However, if it was the other bloke, then it's worth £25,000. How daft is that :? :? It's still the same painting and the artist probably got next to nothing for it. Still, someone's raking it in I suppose :roll:

Rant over :lol:

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[woodbutcher]

i quite often pick up old furniture for restoration and a lot of it is very well made and sometimes ornate, to me i would rather have the old furniture than the new (chipboard or mdf)stuff any day.
i sometimes make a fair packet on it too :lol: :lol:

woodbutcher

 

[TEP]

Don't knock old furniture, I sometimes get little jobs making copies of broken parts for a couple of guys who restore/repair the stuff. They only do it in their spare time but do seem to make some money at it. :wink: