Miller's garden antiques - Rupert Van Der Werff

Furnishing a garden with antiques is fast becoming as popular as finding ornaments for the house. There is a wealth of garden statuary, structures, and decorative items available, much of which is within the reach of the average collector's purse. Such items have adorned gardens for centuries, and the market has increased to become a widespread and accessible collecting area. There is great scope for design and invention within garden antiques, both for the novice and for the more established collector. With newly emerging collecting areas there is often little practical information for a buyer or collector - for instance, how do you tell the difference between an early 18th-century gritstone figure and a modern Vicenza stone figure in the same style? Condition and degree of weathering probably has a greater impact on garden antiques than other categories, but just what does "poor condition" mean, and how much does it affect the price? These are the types of questions "Miller's Garden Antiques" seeks to answer. It offers a very practical approach to identifying and sourcing garden antiques.The guide is divided into the major categories of items available, such as sculpture, urns, furniture, and gates. Tools and accessories at the lower end of the market are also covered, from lawnmowers to hedge clippers to ornate weather vanes. The book is divided further into the different materials, such as stone or cast iron, allowing quick and easy identification of the piece, or type of item, of particular interest. Feature boxes highlight important manufacturers with their mark or stamp, or give advice on practical considerations such as care of your garden antiques, or how to spot a fake or a copy. To help identify materials there is an illustrated section that details the various mediums that will be encountered, and at the back of the book is a catalogue of manufacturers and classical iconography.