Antiques Genuine and Spurious. By Frederick Litchfield. (Bell. 25s. net.)—Mr.
Litchfield writes as an expert for the benefit of the amateur in porcelain, furniture, enamels, and bronzes, sketching the history of each class of work and giving useful hints and anecdotes drawn from a life's experience. It will probably surprise many unwary collectors to learn how highly developed is the manufacture of imitations and forgeries. The supply of fine antiques is limited, but the demand is large and increasing, and manufacturers and dealers strive to satisfy it. The ancient Chinese potteries of King-te-chin may well reproduce the designs which they and they alone made centuries ago, and their modern porcelain may be as good in technique as the old ware. But a similar excuse cannot be made for the modem European reproductions of old Sevres, Italian Renais- sance bronzes, Battersea enamels and so forth, which are often deliberately fraudulent in intention. Mr. Litchfield's hints on the detection of such frauds will be helpful to the amateur. His book is well illustrated and has a good index.
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