Featured Destroying Antiques

My thoughts about people who damage beautiful cameos when removing them so setting can be melted down will have to go unexpressed.

 

Or removing the silver lids from Victorian dresser jars for the same purpose.

Debora

 

Melting down Georgian silver.

If it's borked and not of enough interest to be a fine thing even if it's af, then repurpose indeed. I've seen great things done with sherds.

 

Not technically "destroying" but...

Bad upholstery on good furniture.

Debora

 

If repurposing an antique keeps it relevant and desirable, or makes it relevant or desirable, then by all means,,,,

 

I have been re-purposing sterling silver made in Mexico, “Taxco” ice tea stir straws to make useful straws in a homemade carry bag using the leaf spoonlike section as part of the tie string handle to mark the Sterling content. Repurposing is good for the environment and silver, unlike plastic or stainless steel has a natural antibacterial agent. Tiffany and Company is making brand new sterling silver straws at $140 apiece from newly processed silver which is terrible for the environment and a huge waste of money. If you are making something useful out of something that is otherwise not wanted then good for you.

 

Are those mate spoons, by any chance? The good ones are silver.

I go by the 3M rule when it comes to precious metals - Modern + mass-produced = Melt it . I'll break apart a book if it's already broken, but not otherwise.

 

I think that taking a perfectly good antique and ruining it for repurposing is horrible. But, if it's all beat up and not salvageable, then "saving" it by turning it into something else can be fun. I deal in books. If somebody were to take a perfectly good book and tear it up to frame, make into a journal, etc, I'd cringe. But if it was super beat up, missing pages, etc.....then I think repurposing it is a great way to make it useable again, rather than tossing it.

If somebody found an old dresser that was in great condition, and cut holes in it to make into a sink, I'd cringe. But if the dresser was super beat up and ready for the dumpster, and they repurposed it into something, I'd be fine with it.

I think it all depends on the condition of the antique! Don't RUIN it to repurpose, but taking junk and "saving" it is fine.

 

I feel the same way. Even the coins I'm collecting are low grades, not worth selling individually. I collect old books too, so I'm not talking about ruining ones in good shape, only heavily damaged ones that aren't rare or collectible.

 

I have no problem with repurposing otherwise useless items or melting bits of scrap silver or gold that are damaged beyond repair. What I do have a big problem with is the wanton use of acid directly onto otherwise very nice and collectable pieces of jewellery that had an actual or intrinsic value before they were defaced by someone who's only interest is the melt value.......but that's probably another days rant!.

 

I'd only test the front on something that's either scrap precious or scrap other metal. It's not something you do to anything nice.

 

I still cringe at the memory of an antique store owner testing a silver (plated) bracelet of mine by dripping acid directly on the metal, which proceeded to burn away the silver plating and leave a huge splotch of exposed copper. I should have complained, but it was only 50 cents, so I shrugged and wrote it off as a loss.

 

OTOH, I’ve always wondered why old American furniture is more valuable with a crappy original finish on it. Looks better with a well done re-finish, IMHO. And why not polish copper and brass? I think shows like the Antiques Road Show makes us look at lots of stuff that is nothing but mass-produced junk and wonder, “Is this worth anything? Maybe I shouldn’t toss it.” And then there’s sentimental value which is why I am awash in 2 previous generation’s china and other objects...

I am cutting up magazines and books for collage material which is my latest hobby (well, latest project that I probably won’t finish ) and I’m not worried about it. I sincerely doubt anything I lay my hands on for a couple of bucks at the thrift will have collectible value, and if it does, then I sincerely hope I recognize it and sell it for profit!