Transcript
Page 1: UV black light for art collectors – Discovering Unseen Secrets!

INSPECTING AND EVALUATING A VINTAGE OIL PAINTING

(AND MORE!)

WITH A UV BLACKLIGHT:

REQUIRED Due Diligence For Art Collectors!

GOOD CONDITION? RESTORATIONS? VALUE AND APPRAISAL?

3 GOOD TIPS FOR ART COLLECTORS

Painting by Jean Baptiste Camille Corot - This artist's artwork, in the past, was often faked and is, today, often misattributed.

Every art collector questions the condition (or authenticity!) before a

purchase... or should! Appraisers also rely on evaluations and

inspections by art conservation professionals… and here’s your first

tip:

Page 2: UV black light for art collectors – Discovering Unseen Secrets!

When evaluating the condition of a painting for an important decision,

use the services (consultation) of an art conservator that adheres to

a professional code of ethics. I’ve worked with art dealers and

restorers in the US, England, France and Italy. This type of situation,

where a buyer is evaluating for sale and appraisal, is exactly the

situation where a “head fake” is used to take advantage of the owner.

So many details get blurred when professional codes of ethics are not

in play. The professional code of ethics of professional art

conservation does not allow for an art conservator to buy, sell or

appraise (unless he’s a certified).

This landscape painting by Corot (above) is a perfect example of the

right time to be asking ALL the questions. But what are the right

questions? You can’t know it all…

Second tip: Ask this question… (The art appraiser in this sale was

wondering) Did previous art restoration/conservation treatments

affect the condition? In this case, the cracking had been treated and

the cracks were down/flat but still visible. It seemed to me that the

visibility of the cracks, while not unstable, would be an aesthetic

detraction. Even though this is not a condition problem, would it

affect the value or desirability? In this case, a small amount of varnish

and treatment along the cracks would make them much less visible.

Tip Number Three involves another condition question that should

always be asked regarding previous retouching (if its sloppily done)

or inpainting (if its accurately done and held to a minimum). These

are details that are most easily seen with the use of a blacklight. More

on this important diagnostic method that you can/should perform at

the end of the article. In the case of this

19th century Barbizon painting, the green glow of the varnish is so

bright that you cannot see any retouching under the varnish. You

would only be able to see retouching over the varnish. So,

beware. How much inpainting affects the value? That’s not an easy

question to answer and is better answered by an appraiser. Rule of

Page 3: UV black light for art collectors – Discovering Unseen Secrets!

thumb is that very little inpainting along a border and in non-focus

areas of the composition can be insignificant. Even small fingernail

sized spots and small rips, if located in non-focal parts of the painting

can impact the value very little.

My opinion about this painting was that it is in excellent condition and

the appraiser was prepared to give its highest retail replacement

value for insurance purposes.

So, let’s talk quickly about the use of a blacklight…

An essential, REQUIRED due diligence step for art collectors!

UV (blacklight) inspection makes retouchings show up as purple

blotches

(This is a very over-simplified statement)

Of course, UV inspection has been a normal technique for seeing

retouching for decades.

Page 4: UV black light for art collectors – Discovering Unseen Secrets!

Here is a brief technical review on the subject:

An art collector, when inspecting art for purchase and condition,

should always have a blacklight handy. But, be aware that all materials react to UV light in one way or another so you have to learn

what you are looking at. When you learn the characteristics of what

old paint vs. new paint does (plus other painting materials) and how

varnishes react to UV light, you will have learned a diagnostic method

that may save you $100,000, if not a lot more, depending on your

budget. Also be aware that all UV lights are NOT the same. However,

the more intense or powerful the light (wattage), the better it does its

job for you.

The UV characteristics that art materials give off can be seen as

different colors, different types of “glowing”… or not glowing, bright

colors or dark. But in every case, the viewing of paintings will always

give you valuable information. This makes an ultraviolet lamp an

especially useful instrument in checking the condition of all forms of artwork (see below).

Here is more information (below) on ways to use ultraviolet visible

fluorescence (UV blacklight). What follows are a few things to think

about, however, this is in no way comprehensive nor are you able to

learn the specifics of this diagnostic tool by reading this article, only.

Get help.

Using Ultraviolet Light to Identify Repairs and Alterations

in Various Forms of Artwork

Oil Paintings:

View artwork under ultraviolet light to see if any previous retouching

restoration has been done. Dark purple blotches usually indicate

retouchings, repairs, floating signatures. Different kinds and ages of

varnish “glow” differently with different colors. Different kinds of

Page 5: UV black light for art collectors – Discovering Unseen Secrets!

varnishes mean varying costs of cleaning!

Porcelain, Ceramics & Glass:

Repairs and cracks in fine porcelain and ceramic art objects fluoresce

bright white. Lead glass, with even as little as 1% lead, fluoresces an

ice-blue color while flint glass appears white. Uranium-colored glass

fluoresces a very bright green or yellow. Clear glass repairs are easily

seen with the naked eye but not so in colored glass. Beware of judging

the age of glass by the color, because short-wave radiation turns some

clear glass to amber or purple in a matter of weeks rather than many

years if aged naturally by sunlight. These techniques are particularly

important with Asian art.

Art on Paper:

Bright areas in paper art show new patches of paper, residual gesso

and bleached areas. Repairs have a variety of ways/colors of showing

up. Mildew (foxing) appears yellowish and makes water stains easy to

recognize.

Textiles:

New threads will fluoresce differently than old threads (dyes and

colors). Bleached materials glow bright.

Marble, Jade, Ivory & Clocks:

To determine the repairs of marble, jade, ivory and clock faces, an

ultraviolet lamp is useful. Fresh cut marble will appear as a strong

purple, while old marble will be a mottled white. Fresh carved jade

will appear as an intense color and old jade will be mottled in color.

Newly carved ivory will appear purple, but old ivory will be a yellow

tone.

The ins and outs and variables of looking at collectibles - artwork are

Page 6: UV black light for art collectors – Discovering Unseen Secrets!

best done in an “apprentice” sort of way. Looking at a painting with

someone who knows what they are doing will allow you to ask

questions and understand better. Utilizing a blacklight is not an easy,

idiot proof diagnostics method for the general public. Although it’s

easy enough to buy a blacklight, you will make expensive mistakes if

you don’t get some instruction. So, my suggestion is that you find a

type of mentor or teacher to look at a dozen or more paintings with…

and to whom you can ask questions later.

A darkened room is the optimum place to view an object/artwork with

a blacklight, as you probably know.

But sometimes that’s not practical.

This brings up the subject of quality or potency of UV blacklights.

Perhaps you’d appreciate my evaluation of the quality of some of the

UV lights available for purchase “out there”?

Some battery powered blacklights are so weak that they are useless. I

can’t tell you how many times collectors (and dealers!) have said they

have looked at something with a blacklight and thought that no

retouchings were present. Then, when looking at the artwork with a

better light, the retouchings showed up like bulbs on a Christmas

tree! The hand held battery powered blacklights are a good example

of this type of useless equipment. They cost about $10 -40.00 (fyi, at

various suppliers)

Page 7: UV black light for art collectors – Discovering Unseen Secrets!

The next type of light we should talk about is the flashlight type: you

should know that there are several look alike kinds in varying

strengths of UV light power. Most are useless. So, know what you are

buying. Prices range $25.00 – $125.00 (fyi, at various

suppliers). However, new technology has helped the most powerful to

show up a lot of good details even when used in public settings

without turning off the lights. These most powerful handheld

flashlight type blacklights are 10 times stronger that other flashlight

types that look exactly the same. See below “A New UV Flashlight”.

The next UV light model you have seen used is a plastic housing

model with an electrical cord. These are the most common ones used

by dealers and auction houses. .. so beware. I have one of these and

they are only “OK quality.” I use it to bang around while on the road.

Only use this in a dark/blacked out room and let your eyes adjust

before you start examining or you will not be getting good enough info

to make a good decision. I only use mine if I have no other options.

About $175.00 (fyi, at various suppliers)

Page 8: UV black light for art collectors – Discovering Unseen Secrets!

The model I prefer to use, but don’t carry it around with me on the

road, is also a plug-in. It is many times more powerful than the above

model and gives me LOTS of additional info. It’s by far my favorite UV

light. But it costs $395.00 (s/h included) instead of $175.00 (ask me

about this one)

A New UV Blacklight

I found a really great new inspection tool for art collectors that you

are going to love.  I don’t know if the item is newly invented (I think

it's recent technology put to a new use), but I’m newly acquainted

with it. It’s a superpowerful UV flashlight that can be very useful for:

1. looking at restorations (inpainting, retouchings… or worse,

repainting on paintings and other items

2. seeing mold spots and differentiating between different types

of mold

3. reading faint inscriptions (written on stretcher bars or labels for

example)

4. seeing partial varnish removal, or incomplete cleanings, or

“funny business” with the varnish

5. looking at items in a lighted room, when a darkened room is not

available or practical.

6. being a “hit” at your kids/grandkids Halloween party

All of these line items… well, maybe not #6… should be of great

importance to know prior to a purchase! They could all make a

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difference in what you THINK you are buying and what its

value may be.

I think it is VERY important that you get the best information possible when you are considering a purchase!

So, here is what I have done for you!

I put together an instructional DVD where I walk you through a dozen or more paintings and talk to you about all the details of

examination with a UV blacklight.

We talk details! This instruction will save you BIG bucks.

Watch a quick 2 minute excerpt

Go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hM97cHonMS0 for a 2 minute video clip

PLUS…

I have secured for you the handheld superpowerful UV flashlights that I have tried and tested that I can send you in

the mail.

This is a package deal to meet the major needs

of any art collector…

Page 10: UV black light for art collectors – Discovering Unseen Secrets!

with a guarantee.

Here’s What Is Included In The Package:

High Powered UV Blacklight Flashlight - Max Power $75.00

value

Available only with Instructional DVD

DVD Instructional Video (PLUS a valuable bonus video) $150.00

value

$225.00 Total Value

Package Deal

$147.00

plus tax and shipping

We have only 100 packages available

Page 11: UV black light for art collectors – Discovering Unseen Secrets!

Go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hM97cHonMS0 for a 2 minute video clip

Consider the money you will save by NOT making poor

choices/purchases.

This offer is GUARANTEED to help you recognize important condition

problems!

This will empower you to:

Make a better deal when purchasing. SAVE $!

Encourage “full disclosure” from the seller. SAVE $!

Avoid unknowingly buying over-restored works of art. SAVE $!

Consider how your increased knowledge will sound as you have art discussions

You and I know how much you can save yourself by just avoiding ONE mistake with this proven examination tool and the knowledge I will give you. I think YOUR estimate on how much this might save you is higher than what I dare to estimate!

Page 12: UV black light for art collectors – Discovering Unseen Secrets!

If you are not happy with the information or the performance of the

UV light, return all materials with original undamaged packing and

we will refund your purchase amount and taxes.

Our intention is to OVERPERFORM for you on this purchase and provide the

highest quality supplies and instruction. It is extremely important to us that you get the personalized attention you need to make this purchase effective for you.

Your satisfaction is guaranteed.

The flashlight is surprisingly effective even with the lights on… a

great tool at an auction or while traveling (antiquing).

Go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hM97cHonMS0 for a 2 minute video clip


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