AboutMichael Andrew Wilson Expertise I will attempt to answer questions about European Antique Furniture and 20th Century
Decorative arts and Design furniture, including 18th century & 19th century construction
details, style, period and the craftsmen and manufactures that created them, I will also
attempt to answer questions about buying European Antiques and how to become a expert
collector, my speciality is French, Italian, English, Irish, Spanish, Belgium, Dutch, Danish,
Swedish, German, and Swiss.
Experience Since 1995, I have been, a professional art, antiques and design advisor and earned an unparalleled reputation for providing select clients: expertise in making informed purchase decisions for antiques and art acquisition from a wide range of categories and eras. Architects, interior designers, decorators, dealers, museums, collectors and private clients rely on me for a wide variety of services. I specialize in finding and facilitating the purchase of some of the most notable pieces in the market today. And because I know the market so well –including the secret locations where the world's best dealers purchase their stock – I are generally able to do this at a significant saving of both time and money.
My service includes: creating collecting and acquisition strategy including organizing personally guided buying trips throughout the International art and antiques markets, pre-shopping research, sourcing, analysis of markets, documentation and expert appraisals, handling, shipping and delivery coordination. In short, everything my clients need to be assured of the most knowledgeable, reliable, and pleasurable sourcing, acquisition and collecting experience. My approach is to offer maximum transparency. You can visit my website at: www.mawparis.com
Education/Credentials Moving to Paris in 1989, I worked, for five years as an Interior Design Project Manager for Polo Ralph Lauren where I helped to plan and open more than 60 Polo stores and showrooms across Europe and purchased antiques for one of Mr. Lauren's homes and as a result I oversaw the purchased over 30 million dollars of Art & Antiques, this experience gave a unique qualifications to understand the complexities of this market and gives me a rare insight into the professional antique & art market.
I also have taught “Furniture Design and Style” at the IESA (Institute Arts Superior) in Paris. and have a personal archive of over 170,000 photos of Furniture and 160 hours of video of the major European art and antiques fairs including: Paris’s Biennale des Antiquaires , Maastricht’s TAAF , and London’s Grosvenor House. Some of these videos can be see at: www.thewilsonreport.tv
Past/Present Clients I have a prestigious international clientele of noted business and entertainment figures as well as some of the word’s most important collectors, References are provided for serious enquires.
QUESTION: I recently bought a small pair of candlesticks, believing them to be old. I now think they're quite old - perhaps 200 years. They are mid-drip pricket candlesticks (sometimes called "Dutch" as they were used by Dutch colonists in America)) and are brass,7 inches in height and 3.5 inches across the drip pan.
The tops of these (where candle sockets would normally be) are filled with what appears to be lead, and small spikes or prickets are set into this. The candlesticks are one piece, meaning that they do not screw apart. Any separate pieces when made were permanently fixed.
Both have decorative lines inscribed around them in various places. One has a small loss of brass at the very top edge, around the lead that holds the pricket. Another has an old solder repair under the drip pan. One is heavier than the other. Both lean slightly, and the base of one is slightly out of round. Under each base is an oddity - it looks like these were held upside down a long time ago, and a little sealing wax or pitch was poured into the bases. The substance, whatever it is, looks glassy and brittle. It does not look like glue. On one, this is mostly gone. More remains in the other base, and numbers and letters are scratched into it.
I have looked these up on line and have seen similar ones ranging in age from a pair made in the 1600's, to a pair made circa 1920, during the Colonial Revival craze. These look much older than circa 1920. I'm not asking for a monetary value, but have you any idea how to accurately date them? I see no way to attach photographs, but can send them to you privately if you wish. Thanks.
ANSWER: Please attach the photos to this message, and I will try to help.
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QUESTION: Hello,
I have attached a photo. Am limited to one, apparently. I have several, showing the candlesticks from all angles. Will try to send two or three.
Many thanks!
Answer I am hoping there is an image of the bottom, are you sure that the candlestick will not screw apart. If this is true then this is not old candlestick but a reproduction. all real 16th,17th & 18th century, candlestick screw apart. In the 19th and 20th century some of candlestick were molded and were in one piece.
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