Thread: Do Rules for Other Antiques Apply to Eshers?

Originally Posted by Martin103

Really! French polish the label? isnt that like way overkill! The value is in the stone and proof of that is that recently a Larger then usual Escher
sold on a popular auction site, final price was 3 times the price they usually fetch and the label was not even half there and all beat up!
And we have yet to hear about an Escher collector! And fascinating that all that value comes from a hone that was once cheaper then a common swaty! proof is in the link!
http://straightrazorpalace.com/hones...alog-page.html

I do french polish the labels, it only takes a couple minutes to get a sufficient build of shellac using straight strokes and it provides an excellent water barrier. The trick to sealing the labels is to blot the shellac on fairly dry in the beginning to minimize any ink bleeding then once it is sealed, I switch to straight strokes.

Nail polish on labels work for me.

I have mixed feelings about all this focus on labels. On one hand, it's a tool and if it works then that's that. On the other hand, I like to know what it is I'm spending my money on.
The presence of a label is one way to assure what the item is I suppose. While not fool-proof, it's certainly an indicator of authenticity.
I guess my main issue is that there is a seemingly never ending buzz about labeled Escher ownership, that has nothing to do with honing on it.
Since I'm not a collector - that discussion fails to have impact on me. Still - I like honing on Eschers and Thuris so there is an interest in those stones kicking around in my head all the time.
While I would love to have the bragging rights that comes with owning a 'Barber's Delight' or whatever - I'm not willing to pay for it, nor do I have the time to invest in searching for one in the wild. Plus - Im not convnced that it would improve my edges so I'm at a loss for a reason to pusue one. I have a non-labled stone that appears to be at least a Thuri, and I do believe it to be an Escher for reasons I don't need to get into - and when i use it I'm very happy with the results. Will a BD make me 2x happy? Nope...

Ideas are mostly free, the practice of smothering labels and fossilizing them with heavy coats of urathane or any material that will not allow future collectors to authenticate the type a paper and ink on labels is at the very least worth considering. Having been with this community for some time now, I have never met a group as enamored by the Eschers pedigree as many of you and that was my reason for concern.

I gave a viable alternative in that labels can and probably should be reglued with hide glue or as Mattluthier suggested with fish glue are adhesives used in that time period correct for what was used in Germany at that time. Moreover, they can also be sized with hide glue as well for added protection.I have done this and it offers sufficient protection for the type of use that conesiuers at all levels can appreciate.

Mattluthier method of using shellac sounds interesting as this is also reversable to a much better extent than modern materials. Perhaps, a combination of sizing the label with hide glue and then french polish(or brushing) may make reversability easier if anyone is concerned. Also Jimmy's idea to use krylon deserves consideration since this material seems to be already in use for similar applications.

My question is "Why?"

Prior poss in this thread suggest that there are no true " Escher Collectors"
if the people here are not concerned with the collectible value of a stone, why does it matter if we preserve them with fishpuke, or tree blood, or any "period correct" methods?
Does it matter if we paint over the entire label except for the words "Escher" ?
a truly pristine specimen should be encased in Lucite, where it can be stored for all future generations to oggle and enjoy. If the intention is to USE the stone, then the intention is to devalue it! so why not just glue a sheet of glass right over the label side? Does it really matter?

"Enamored " I don't know. People around here are enamord about lot's of things. I paid about $200.00 for my Escher a while ago. The label was Poly'd on. I bet I can sell it for $600.00 easy, and I bet the buyer would be happy that label is preserved. I don't think folks really care what was used, and long as the label's in tact. People are actually more concerned, as you said, that it's an Escher. Your point is well taken.

It's not just Escher either, Look at the Jnat crowd. Most guys buy one Escher, and are good. A collector may have a few, Jnat guys, may have 50.
Then, there's the Coticule guys, and the Charnley guys. There's a stone that was in the lime light for a while, and died down.

I think this hobby in general draws people in with tendancies to OCD, and I mean that in the nicest way possible.

Originally Posted by Magpie

My question is "Why?" .............
If the intention is to USE the stone, then the intention is to devalue it! so why not just glue a sheet of glass right over the label side? Does it really matter?

Then you may as well cut the legs off from the pre-colonial sideboard and carve your initials in it. Hones can be used hundreds of times maybe thousands without any appreciable wear. Just like the sideboard can be preserved and used. Just like the Model T can be driven. Use doesn't mean abuse. With hones which can no longer be mined the question is simply how far is too far for the future admirer?

Originally Posted by Magpie

If the intention is to USE the stone, then the intention is to devalue it! so why not just glue a sheet of glass right over the label side? Does it really matter?

I don't think the use of something devalues it depending on how it's treated. I believe it ultimately adds value since the object is recognized to be useful and doesn't get damaged by neglect. Musical instruments are a good example of this, in many circumstances they are better off being played than not. I don't think the use of a Stradivari violin diminishes it's value? I guess what really matters is the concern about preservation of antique items whether it's a million dollar instrument or a hundred dollar hone with label, they deserve proper care.

Originally Posted by Magpie

My question is "Why?"

Prior poss in this thread suggest that there are no true " Escher Collectors"

I try hard not to follow all suggestions I hear.. I think many here take pride in their collections and that includes old Eschers.
When people pay upward of 600 us dollars that is collecting value. Also and even more telling is how much comparable sized Thurries go for because they don't have labels. There is a definitive need for many here through numerous posts to own an authentic escher with a label.

And I do believe they should be used but taken care of because of their value and the fact that there will never be anymore after these are gone.

Originally Posted by Kingfish

I try hard not to follow all suggestions I hear.. I think many here take pride in their collections and that includes old Eschers.
When people pay upward of 600 us dollars that is collecting value. Also and even more telling is how much comparable sized Thurries go for because they do't have labels. There is a definitive need for many here through numerous posts to own an authentic escher with a label.

And I do believe they should be used but taken care of because of there value and the fact that there will never be anymore after these are gone.

Well said. Once they're gone, They're gone. We may be saying that about Coticules one day. There's one mine, once it's fished out, They're gone too.