Antiques security

Are your belongings at risk? Beat the burglars and take positive action to secure your possessions, with our guide to protecting your antiques.

Documenting items: An inventory, or list of your antiques collection, will be invaluable for keeping a detailed record of each antique in your collection to prove ownership in the event of an insurance claim. New purchases should be documented in an inventory book, and photographed as soon as possible. Keep the receipts of anything you have purchased with your inventory. To begin an inventory of your collection make a list of every object you wish to include. Then, write down the following information, for each item:

• Where it came from.

• The date it was bought or acquired.

• The price paid for it.

• A full description of the item, including its size, what it's made from, and any decorative features.

• A report of its condition, including cracks, chips, alterations or restoration. This should be updated whenever you have a piece restored.

• Anything else you know about the object's history.

Photographing items: It's also vitally important to have a clear photo of all your antiques. You may want to enlist the help of a professional photographer to photograph your collection. However, if you observe a few simple guidelines it's quite simple to undertake yourself. It's best to photograph objects using colour film, outdoors in natural daylight. Choose a day when there's a light cloud cover, so the sunlight is not too harsh and the shadows aren't noticeable. To get the best results, stand with the sun behind you, level with the object, and close enough to fill the view finder. If the objects are very small, photograph them against a white background, unless the object itself is predominantly white, in which case a grey or black background. It's also useful to include a scale reference, such as a ruler placed beside the object. If the object is behind glass, stand slightly to one side to avoid reflections and glare. Take at least one shot of each object, as well as close-up shots of any identifying scratches, bumps or marks on each piece. These detail shots are especially important if the object is likely to be similar to many others. As well as taking individual photographs, it's also a good idea to take general shots of your room. This will help you remember any smaller items which may be forgotten. Remember to keep your photographs together in a safe place. Ideally they should be filed with your inventory entry for each object. It's also wise to store a copy of photographs somewhere else for safekeeping; for example, with your bank or solicitor.

Arts and Antiques Squad: Photographs of any stolen antiques can be logged via your local police office with the Art and Antiques Squad at Scotland Yard. This police department has a national database, which contains descriptions and photographic images of works of art stolen throughout the country. When stolen property is recovered, the Art and Antiques squad can identify the rightful owner - provided the object has been logged on their computer system.

 

Recovering your property: You can assist the recovery of any stolen property by marking your belongings with a security pen (available through the Crime Prevention office) which is only visible under ultraviolet light. However, many collectors prefer not to mark their antiques in this way, because the pen is indelible; should you want to sell the item at a later date it could deter prospective buyers. However, by far the best way of helping the police to retrieve your possessions is by supplying them with as much information about the stolen property as possible.

ANTIQUES CARE: CARE

Don't let your antique rugs get ruined. Follow our simple guidelines for their proper care, with tips and advice on how to clean and look after them. How many of us take the time to look at some of the wonderful hand-made rugs and carpets that we walk on? Have you ever turned over a rug or opened up the pile to examine the fine knotting used to make these pieces of textile art? The skill and time it takes to make these heirlooms should prompt us to follow a few guidelines that could extend their lives. General care Like other textiles, exposing rugs to rapid changes in temperature and humidity is not good. Open fires and treasured floor coverings don't mix. Direct sunlight may result in fading, so if your rug or carpet is in a sunny area, close the curtains at times of bright sunlight. Narrow diameter shoe heels (smaller than a two pence coin), no matter how high or low, cause a great deal of damage both to floors and carpets. Take care when moving rugs and carpets. There's less chance of damaging the pile if you roll them up with the pile facing outwards.  Adhesive shouldn't be used with textiles. Glued patches do not help the stability of a piece and while underlay may be very useful, they shouldn't have adhesive on them. Don't use nails or staples to secure rugs or carpets either. Pets can inadvertently do a great deal of damage. Claws cause damage to the pile and urine stains are difficult to remove (as well as attracting insects). Check during the spring and summer for signs of insect infestation. If a piece has signs of clothes' moths or carpet beetles, isolate it from other textiles and contact a textile conservator immediately. When vacuuming your carpet or rug, don't scrub but use a gentle action with a regular rather than a rotary head and work only in the direction of the pile. If there is a spill, put some layers of white paper towel or clean towels above and below the stain and try to absorb as much liquid as you can. Change the paper or cloths frequently until no more liquid is coming out. Leave some clean layers above and below in case more comes out as it is drying. Don't lay anything heavy on the wet pile as it could crush it. Some rugs have had unethical treatments such as covering areas of lost pile with paint or felt-tip pins and these may run when in contact with liquids. If you see dye coming out contact a textile conservator immediately. Don't use foam cleaners or other chemical cleaners. These are only suitable for your modern wall-to-wall. Don't use remedies like salt, as this can cause more damage. Further cleaning or repairs should be left to a conservator. Information courtesy of Sharon Manita.