Originals and Imitations A Study of Scientific Instruments

Abstract

As inflation continues to increase, objets d'art including early scientific instruments offer an excellent investment to the connoisseur, but also tempt the forger to imitate them. Various grades of imitation must be distinguished and are here defined and illustrated by nocturnals, barometers, microscopes and quadrants. The growing challenge of these imitations must spur the museum curator to insist on provenance, to establish type specimen and to employ the full range of modern scientific analyse available, if he is not to fall victim like the careless collector.