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Prints, engravings and etchings?
Nicholas Vandekar • October 22, 2020
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What is the difference between prints, etchings and engravings?
To begin with prints are an affordable way to purchase art. Whilst you may not be able to afford an original art work, if an artist has created prints, these may sell for a much more affordable price, from say $100 to $1000 depending on rarity. Many fine art prints are made in limited numbers and signed by the artist, that is the number you see on the signed matte with the signature, 100/500, print 100 of 500 made for example. The bigger the print run, the more affordable the print will be. The smaller the print run the more limited and there fore more expensive. Of course, who the artist is will also affect the price as well.
Now back to engravings and etchings, both are intaglio, which is a fancy way of saying cutting, methods of creating a print and involve cutting lines in something called a plate. Whilst the engraving is done using varying tools of different thicknesses to create a negative on which damp paper is placed, which is then put under great pressure casing the ink laid over the engraving to be drawn up into the paper. An etching uses a chemical process which then uses tools to create areas which are then deepened with an acid bath. Here is a great article in Collector's Guide
Many artists you know well such as Rembrandt made prints, some artists worked exclusively in this format, and many prints were made of art or drawings by other artists. Often the plates are retired after a print run, ensuring the limited size of the run, however, sometimes additional unauthorized prints might be made from the plates. I currently have two examples of this with prints by Joesph Penell, a Philadelphia artist who worked in England, one of St Paul's Cathedral and another of Limehouse, along with letters from his wife detailing how Penell wanted to have these back so he could either destroy them or sign them and sell them himself as they had been made without his permission. I will post another blog specifically about both.
The photo I used for this post is an interesting print by Peter Hurd circa 1937, titled Texas Nomads 19/40, only 40 were made and this is number 19. However, the scene was later used by Chevron as a give away and retitled just The Nomads. This limited edition is priced at $160.00
As I was collecting another purchase today I suddenly was struck by how wonderful this vintage antique weathervane was. It was surrounded by greens and would look awesome on a sideboard in a room or on a low table behind a couch. I love the subject of the dressage rider, I have not decided if it is a woman or a man as it is a little ambiguous. Painted all over in black it is quite dramatic, being 41 1/2" high and 33 1/2 " long. It sits on a heavy metal stand. I have priced it this piece at $875.00 plus tax, delivery available locally. Call if interested.
Using antiques in and around the home does not mean your home is going to become a museum. Like any decorating it is about using a certain style. It may only need one or two antique pieces to make a room look awesome and those can be anything from a painting, a piece of furniture or an object placed well. Working with an interior designer if you are not sure is a great idea and we can recommend some local ones too. But, basically I like to tell people to buy what you like, it is going to sit in your home. Maybe it is some chicken prints, or some Disney Cells from a cartoon, or possibly some vintage poster for a cruise or movie. There is no set agenda when you are decorating your home. Initially you may not have a specific style and don't worry about that, many of us begin by being eclectic and then later develop a more restrained style. When buying furniture think about how you are going to use it, consider what you are placing around it. I used to find many people start off buying furniture and paintings, then gradually add porcelain objects and maybe silver pieces as well. There is no set order. I had one client who had collected porcelain cups and saucers since he was a boy from one particular factory. He knew far more than I did about shapes and designs because that was his niche. The thing to realize is that all these pieces have a history that goes with them. Someone else looked after them, then passed them on, or sold them. Likewise, you can always upgrade as you move along through life and can either afford more expensive pieces, or because you are moving to a larger home, oh by the way Nick, the owner is a local Realtor, so he can help you with that, and need other pieces to decorate your new place. I love garden items, and as more of us now live in our back yards, you may want to consider placing some objects around the back yard, the pool or on the patio to enjoy. As landscape architects will tell you, you are creating rooms in your yard, they also need decorating not just with plants and trees. Here at Home and Gardens Antiques, we look forward to helping you find the perfect piece, where ever it is going to go. Even if we don't have it we can probably track it down given time as we have contacts all over the world.
Why do we buy anything? We consider a need or a desire that we have for something and we look around for an object or service that will supply satisfaction and give a feeling of fulfilling that need or desire. I have a real concern for our environment and how the manufacture of new furniture is damaging the forests we are so dependent upon for our planet to survive without constant global warming and the related damage from worsening weather events. Therefore, where I can I consider purchasing things that have been repurposed. Growing up in a family of antique dealers, I am the fourth generation who have dealt in antiques I also understand and like older things. But, when I am buying I am not just looking for something old. I am looking for a piece that satisfies aesthetically as well. Good design, is good design, whether it is old or new. Some pieces have classic lines that will never go out of fashion. I am also looking for how a piece is made, whether it is a piece of furniture, porcelain, glass or an object for your back yard. The sheer fact there are so many antiques available today is testament to how well they were made. Certainly many have suffered or been destroyed due to fire, storms or even hurricanes. But many have survived and each is not just helping the environment, it is a part of history, it has been used, it has a story. This is what excites me about looking at antiques and vintage items. Some are very rare and carry a high price, but many pieces are cheaper than buying something new from Restoration Hardware, some fancy box store or even Ikea. That is why I buy antiques and vintage items. It is why I love to travel and find pieces and learn a little about the history behind the object. I hope you will travel with me as I discover new items and post them here for sale. Maybe they can become a part of your story too.
