posted on May 23, 2005 12:46:58 PM new
ladyjewels,
I fixed the Dresden link.
Thank you for your kind words about the photos. I felt in the mood today to use a gray background, and wasn't too pleased with how murky it made everything look, but perhaps it isn't as bad as I thought
posted on May 23, 2005 12:58:38 PM new
IMHO they're both "new". Meissen mark is crossed swords, and that has been reproduced too.
It's reached the point where I'm leary of alot of ceramic and glass items. I recently picked up a tray that had a perfect rs prussia mark on the bottom, only to find out that it is a repro. Same with MANY Nippon marked pieces.
If you tell them Benjamin Franklin said it first, they'll believe you
I don't think the particular consignor who gave me this has anything repro in his house. I will ask him when he got it, but his house is full of antiques, vintage items, etc.
He doesn't really need the money (I think it's more of a sport for him), and I can't imagine him lying about something that is, for him, absolutely chump change. I wish I could earn in a year what he spends on landscaping
Having said that, I still don't know what these are.
posted on May 23, 2005 02:41:10 PM new
MZ Dresden mark -- Muller & Co., Volkstedt, Thuringia, Germany and Dromcolliher, Ireland. Made porcelain, figurines, Irish. Dresden added after 1960. Active 1907 to present.
(From Kovel's pottery marks, page 82).
The second mark could be a variant of Sitzendorfer. Did not find that one in Kovel's.
Just as a side note, I used to spend hours looking for marks on the web. Finally plunked down $5 on this book -- sometimes reference works DO save time!
And may I add a note about repros and overall savvy and wealth? I knew VERY few antique dealers who haven't bought a well done repro at some time -- if not, they just aren't buying much, or more likely, still haven't figured it out. Early repros in particular have enough age -- so is it 50 years old? 100 years old?
posted on May 23, 2005 02:52:03 PM new
Birgittaw,
When Dresden is mentioned, I immediately think of pre-WW2, before Dresden was leveled. Anything after 1944 with the name Dresden on it is designed to deceive the buyer. JMHO
Agreed. At least we now know it's less than 50 years old. So cashinyourcloset should sell it as a decorative item only.
One of the reasons, like you, I don't deal much in china and porcelain these days, unless it's English ironstone. Got burned on a Woodlands pattern Rozane piece that the dealer/seller swore up and down was "the real thing." It turned out to be a 1930's oriental repop (easy to find on a google -- now I don't buy unless I look it up first, the best thing about having a wireless modem for the laptop!) So RS Prussia too, huh?
posted on May 23, 2005 04:09:07 PM new
the current mark Sitzendorf use now has a crown and a letter S with your sign over the S sign.
this could be a knockoff,hard to imagine Sitzendorf will left out the S sign.
-sig file -------
Eat grass,kick ass,never go belly up!
posted on May 23, 2005 04:55:01 PM new
Hey Cash - can't help you with the figurines but how about a lesson in photos. If I use a white background it turns peach. Have to use black or a dark color.
posted on May 23, 2005 05:18:25 PM new
Neil...Sounds like you're using an incadescent light source. Try natural sunlight, in the shade. Fluorescent light will make it look lime. Not good for pictures, but great for margaritas.
A $75.00 solid state device will always blow first to protect a 25 cent fuse ~ Murphy's Law
I agree with sparkz, to a point. I use very orange light (tungsten), but my camera has a white-balance adjustment. What that means is that I can point the camera at something white, press a button, and the camera compensates for the color of the light source so that it becomes white. I then go and take photos, re-setting the white balance if the lighting changes.
If your camera doesn't have this, and obtaining a camera that does isn't feasible, you can get full-spectrum daylight balanced bulbs to use. Or, your camera might have white-balance presets (e.g., for incandescent, flash, sunlight, etc.)
The trick is to get white to appear white, and everything else falls into place.
Claude
PS the problem with just using a different background is that, most likely, whites in the object you're photographing are also turning too "peach."
posted on May 23, 2005 05:56:32 PM new
Sparkz - I have a setup to the right of my computer with a desk and lights. To take everything outside and take pics and drag everything back in and if it doesn't turn out then back out again is a PITA. I try to take pics right beside me, load them, down load them in Vendio and it saves time. I am a one-woman operation here.
I don't have incandescent lighting but have a bar set up on my photo table with 3 lights shining on my object. Still turns peach.
Cash - thanks for your input. I have an Olympia which serves me fine but what you say is very confusing. Would love to have a white background appear white. If I use black with a white object it turns out pretty good. But if I have a black object and want a white back ground, forget it
posted on May 23, 2005 06:24:49 PM new
Neil....As Claude states, the lamps are the culprit. You need to change out the bulbs for something that produces a natural light. The human eye can't detect it, but if you take a camcorder, switch off the white balance and walk through the house taping under every light source you have, you can dramatically see the difference that individual lamps have on a camera without automatic white balance. Then, while still taping, walk outside into natural light and the difference in quality, on playback of the tape, is apparent. There are light sources that approache natural, but depending on where you live, they may be hard to chase down. The room where my computer is located is less than 10 feet from my garage where I set up a table to take my photos, so it's not a problem for me to check my pictures and reshoot if necessary. I have a video monitor where I can preview the quality before I upload them to the computer, but after getting used to the camera, I rarely use it anymore.
A $75.00 solid state device will always blow first to protect a 25 cent fuse ~ Murphy's Law
posted on May 23, 2005 06:31:46 PM new
niel35, which Olympia? In the manual, does it say anything about white balance? I can walk you through it if your camera has the function.
posted on May 24, 2005 05:09:02 AM new
GE sells litebulbs which simulate daylight,there is also background paper which does not reflect light.
-sig file -------
Eat grass,kick ass,never go belly up!
posted on May 24, 2005 06:47:39 AM new
I do everything but stand on my head. from different angles and then I am fighting the glare from the some of the widgets too.
posted on May 24, 2005 10:22:18 AM new
jeweler will place the jewelry in a styrofoam container,i dont know if this will work for you.
-sig file -------
Eat grass,kick ass,never go belly up!
It doesn't appear that your camera has a custom white balance setting, but according to a web review: The adjustable white balance can be set to Auto, Daylight, Overcast, Tungsten and Fluorescent settings.
Depending on your light source, one of these settings should keep it from being too pink.
posted on May 29, 2005 02:28:54 PM new
I broke down and bought Kovels' New Dictionary of Marks. The 4th link, to an "H", is apparently Voight Bros/ Alfred Voigt, a predecessor to Sigzendorf.
Great book. Thanks for the recommendation birgittaw.
