Susquehanna Antique Shop News

This is a short "before and after" video showing how David Friedman frames a very dark painting with an affordable frame that complements the art.  David Friedman is the third generation owner of Susquehanna Antique Company. The company was founded in 1913 by his grandfather. Named after the Susquehanna River in the region it was founded, the company was passed down to the current owner's father. David's father moved the company to beautiful Asheville, North Carolina. David was born in Asheville and was raised in the store outside of his school time. He eventually took over the store and moved to Washington,...

Paintings are fragile creations that require special care to ensure their continued preservation. Paintings consist of various layers. The paint is applied to a support, typically canvas or wood, which is usually first primed with a glue sizing and/or ground layer. Traditional paintings are finished with a coat of varnish. Contemporary paintings, naïve, or folk art may not have a ground layer or varnish coating. Paintings that do not have all of the traditional layers may be more fragile and susceptible to change or damage. The paint layers can be made of pigments in oil, acrylic (or other synthetics), encaustic...

Making the correct framing choice for paintings is especially important. The frame becomes a more prominent component as there is no mat to separate the frame from the artwork, and often the frame will be quite wide. Not only should the style and finish be carefully considered but the period style in the case of older paintings is also an important aspect. The Significance of the Frame Visitors to an art museum or gallery may never realize how important a frame is to their enjoyment of a work of art. Not only do frames protect and support artwork, but their...

Spatterware is a rather broad term for pottery with colors that look as if they were spattered or sponged onto the surface. This type of pottery was crafted in England beginning around 1780 and is usually called spongeware in European circles. The base of these pieces is most often made from common earthenware, although creamware was used in some cases, according to Warman’s Antiques & Collectibles. Stoneware crockery with a similar look is sometimes called spatterware by collectors and dealers, so don’t be confused by this similarity in terms when researching your pieces. Make sure that what you have is...