Myrna Schkolne: Early Staffordshire Figures

Although this site focuses on pre-Victorian figures, the integrity of the antique pottery market as a whole concerns all of us. So read the tale of two Victorian figures just posted under the "Beware" tab and draw your own conclusions. Pity the auction house, Tooveys, that appears to have detected and disclosed much restoration was penalized by not selling the item. And I wish that all auction houses were as conscientious about condition reports.

I have just received a refund for an item I returned to an esteemed US auction house because of significant undisclosed restoration. The auction house was honorable and very nice about it, and a refund was no problem--but I was told that for what I paid I should have expected an issue! The problem is that for what I was prepared to pay, based on the condition report, I did not expect a problem. Again, Buyer Beware!