Antiquities authentication

When ancient objects are removed from their original archaeological location, they lose much of their initial value to the scholar, since site, position, and surroundings convey a great deal of information about an object and also enable its authentication. Authenticating isolated objects relies on the fact that antiquities carry within themselves evidence of the time and place of their manufacture (Jones 1992 Jaffe and Van der Tweel 1979). 

Barker, H. (1973), Scientific Criteria in the Authentication of Antiquities, Application of Science in Examination of Works of Art Proc. Seminar, June 15-19,1970, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. 

Baines, D.M. Probing the Authenticity of Antiquities with High-Tech Attacks on a Microscale, Science, 1374 [March 18, 1988). 

Further study is indicated, especially under experimental conditions that allow the detection of cadmium in the presence of high concentrations of silver. The controversy surrounding the possibility of the use of cadmium compounds by goldsmiths of antiquity could more easily be elucidated if other analytical research teams were involved in analyses of jewelry of unquestionable authenticity from the same period and origin as those reported here. A more extensive study of ancient textbooks by both linguists and scientists would probably shed additional light on the subject. 

In discussions about authentic dacha life informants repeatedly asked if I had ever seen or used a real samovar. One of the historical museums in Tver has an extensive collection of antique samovars, and for an extra charge visitors can participate in a tea ceremony in which a museum guide details the history of the Russian samovar and tea drinking. The presentation reaches its climax with the pouring of tea made in an authentic samovar. Acquaintances who were concerned that my research would suffer if I had never used an authentic samovar were relieved when they learned that I had visited the museum and participated in the tea ceremony. 

Distressing n. In antiquing, the furniture process designed to produce a more authentic look of age or craftsmanship. It attempts to simulate the small visible marks of abuse picked up by a piece of... 

However applicable in Theory the doctrine may be to a Constitution, it seems liable in practice to some very powerful objections. Would not a Government so often revised become too mutable to retain those prejudices in its favor which antiquity inspires, and which are perhaps a salutary aid to the most rational Government in the most enlightened age. Would not such a periodical revision engender pernicious factions that might not otherwise come into existence. Would not, in fine, a Government depending for its existence beyond a fixed date, on some positive and authentic inter-... 

Determination of impurities in antique silver objects for authentication... 

Devos,W., Moor, C, Lienemann, P. (1999) Determination of impurities in antique silver objects for authentication by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry, 14, 621-626. 

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