Article by Samuel Zee
There are two important ways in which you can protect your collection. Firstly, you should try to deter potential thieves from entering your home by making it as secure as possible. If you are unsure about how to go about this, you can contact the crime prevention officer through the local police station. He will be able to advise you on ways of safeguarding your belongings and should be able to recommend a reputable security firm in your area who can install additional locks or alarms or whatever other equipment may be necessary.
An inventory, or list of your collection, will be invaluable for this, but it is also vitally important to have a clear photograph of each object in your collection. By photographing all the items in your collection, you will help to redress this balance, and greatly increase the chances of recovering stolen items should you fall victim to crime.
PHOTOGRAPHING
You may want to enlist the help of a professional photographer to photograph your collection, although if you observe a few simple guidelines it is quite a simple task to do it yourself. It is best to photograph objects using colour film outdoors in natural daylight. Choose a day when there is a light cloud cover, so the sunlight is not too harsh and the shadows are not very noticeable.
For the clearest results the new digital cameras can be used. To get the best results stand with the sun behind you, level with the object, not above or to the side, and close enough to fill the view finder. If the objects are very small, it is best to photograph them against a plain background; white is usually the best colour for this, unless the object itself is predominantly white, in which case use a grey or black background.
It is also useful when photographing your collection to include a scale reference; a ruler placed beside each object is a good way of doing this. If the object is behind glass, stand slightly to one side to avoid unwanted 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 detailed shots are especially important if the object is likely to be similar to many others. If you can show the crack on the ear of your Staffordshire dog, the hallmarks of your Victorian candlestick or the chip on the face of your carriage clock, they will provide an invaluable method of positive identification. As well as these individual photographs, it is also a good idea to take general shots of your room. These will help you to remember any smaller items which you may forget to list.
Remember to keep your photographs together in a safe place. Ideally, they should be filed in your inventory beside the entry for each object. It is also a wise precaution to store a copy of photographs somewhere else for safekeeping.
About the Author
To find out loads more great information about antiques, from antique clocks to antique desks , hop on over to my antiques site.
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To find out loads more great information about antiques, from antique clocks to antique desks , hop on over to my antiques site.
Use and distribution of this article is subject to our Publisher Guidelines
whereby the original author’s information and copyright must be included.
