Is my $2 garage-sale lamp a Murano? A Dino Martens even?

[mc3378]

Originally Posted by artifice

Hi what l am trying to say is when it comes to resale original patina/condition is more attractive to buyers than reworked versions.I know some people like to to make it new and shiney.however more items are destroyed or markedly devalued by this practice.Cliff

Guess I did not make myself clear on refinishing my lamp, the base was damaged and felt I had no choice but to fix it. It was very noticeable. If it had not been damaged I might of used soap and water, but I'll say it again didn't have much choice. I never planned on trying to sell it. Just wanted to show what the base can look like when cleaned.

[fossilfly]

Originally Posted by mc3378

Guess I did not make myself clear on refinishing my lamp, the base was damaged and felt I had no choice but to fix it. It was very noticeable. If it had not been damaged I might of used soap and water, but I'll say it again didn't have much choice. I never planned on trying to sell it. Just wanted to show what the base can look like when cleaned.

I don't think it was necessarily a comment towards your lamp in particular, but just a general statement that its best to leave a patina on if the item is going to be resold and doesn't need repair. I prefer a nice shine on brass as well.

That being said adding a patina to brass is relatively easy, I just did it a few weeks ago, not to a lamp, but to a door strikeplate. The bright brass replacement looked odd in comparison to the rest of the door hardware, so I just added some ammonia to a piece of cotton and put it in a plastic bag along with the strikeplate. It darkened considerable in less than 24 hours ( I just left it in the bag, without heating) I found the info here:

http://www.woodmagazine.com/material...ina-for-brass/

[mc3378]

Thanks for the information I never heard of doing that, think I will bookmark the site you gave in case I want to try it. Thanks again.

[mablewill]

This technique works only on solid-brass hardware. Thin plating may be entirely removed by this process.

[skydiamonds67]

Originally Posted by Langhaugh

I have a couple of reservations about Martens. I don't see the shape in his catalogue (it was a quick skim, I admit). More importantly, the mezza filigrana looks a little too loose and untidy for a Martens. Perhaps I've not seem enough Martens. Anyone else have the same reservations?

It is a very good lamp, though.

Is the catalogue available online anywhere? I'd love to be able to definitively prove if my lamp is a Martens or just in his style.

[Langhaugh]

No, it's not online. The catalogue is included in the book on Dino Martens by Marc Heiremans. The problem is that not all his lamps are included, and it seems that any mezza filigrana lamp tends to be sold as a Martens. I'm extremely reluctant to say if yours is or isn't. I think it would take an expert actually holding it to come a conclusion, and even then it's only an informed opinion.

It's very nice lamp and a wonderful bargain. Some times we just have to love a piece without knowing who did it. I've got a Murano chandelier that I don't know who made, but I don't love it any the less.

Enjoy.

David

[murasaki]

Don't clean the brass with brasso! Leave the patina for sure. It could be a factory second meaning that it had flaws that prevented it from being sold in the showroom. It could be a Martens design but again, you need to find a real expert on this with some more concrete design proof for you. Antique Roadshow??