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What You Need to Know to Get Started
Occasionally, a client will look at piece that just glows with a beautiful patina. He or she'll say, "I like it but it has a little scratch on the top. Can you fix it?" I'm often inclined to say to them, "You'd have a few scratches on you if you were 150 years old!" So, next time you are shopping, remember that wear is natural with antiques.
Provenance:
The word refers to the documented history of a piece. It's the who, what, when and where of it. It's what separates the very good from the truly exceptional.
Provenance is a great word to throw around at a cocktail party. It packs a greater punch when it's said in a highly affected tone. A good use of the word might be, "You just won't believe the provenance of my new Louis XIV chair that I just received from France. It's the authentic chair that he sat in while Marie Antoinette told the French peasants to eat cake!"
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