Hi, and welcome to what is known as the Qlocal Antique Spot. My Name is John Nolan and I hope I will be able to help you get as much enjoyment out of the Antiques trade as I have over the years.

When I started being interested in antiques in 1960 I quickly found the business was a closed shop, the ring ruled, dealers would not want to give away their knowledge. Everything was a secret.

I then found out that Tommy the Guesser and Billy the Liar was prominent within the trade. Ethics went out of the window.

The Irish walnut Queen Anne nursing Chair Circa 1760 I had just purchased from this "knowledgeable nice guy" was in fact a 1920's mahogany chair and the legs had been cut down. ....... I can laugh now. ..... But not then.

When I returned to his shop he commented " I only buy and sell the stuff mate. If you think it was too expensive. Remember it was the profit that made it expensive.

O' I did learn quickly.

But as I grew older I then released that these traits existed in all walks of life. The antique trade was no different.

I really do hope that this "THE ANTIQUE SPOT" will be known as the site in which we all can pass onto each other some interesting facts, information about our antiques. We never stop learning, and may be a way of building up friendships as my Black Book has done.

As THE QLOCAL ANTIQUE SPOT is so easily accessible in 648 locations through out the UK, any interesting stories you may have, feel free to share them with us, any unusual activities, or should I say ghost stories related to a piece of furniture or an item, I am sure will be very interesting to all the posters.

Just log in and then post

You can post any question you like concerning antiques or collectibles.

Even controversial subjects, from stolen good to the Ring with in the auction, paranormal activity around an antique item, wood worm and the French. China not from China and china from China.

Just log in and then post

There are a lot of believers out there referring to the subject Paranormal activity and I have purchased many items over the years that may make me a believer. Which in time I may post about. I do understand that there are some people simply cannot wrap their minds around the fact that we are not alone.

good night
and sleep well

i live in ireland and recently a few other antique dealers and i have opened an antique centre in an old run down nun's convent.

the place has a great feel about it with lots of corridors and large rooms that lead directly into small cave like rooms (possibly prayer rooms), the place has a history of being haunted.

the first day we moved in a peice of furnature was left overnight in the hallway waiting to be moved into place, when we arrived the next morning a holy medal was lying on top of the table and the dealer nor anyone else admited to putting it there.

now in true irish fashion the rumour has spread around the town to furthermore confirm peolple's belief that the place is haunted.

i have to say that i am not a believer in ghosts, spirits or even god or the bible but it is interesting none the less.

now i have the perfect oil painting for my location, its an early 19th century religious painting , what i am looking to know is the exact name for a peice like this, is it an icon? and should i frame it, if yes what type of frame should i be looking for?

Originally Posted by briana5125

i live in Ireland and recently a few other antique dealers and i have opened an antique centre in an old run down nun's convent.

the place has a great feel about it with lots of corridors and large rooms that lead directly into small cave like rooms (possibly prayer rooms), the place has a history of being haunted.

the first day we moved in a piece of furniture was left overnight in the hallway waiting to be moved into place, when we arrived the next morning a holy medal was lying on top of the table and the dealer nor anyone else admitted to putting it there.

now in true Irish fashion the rumour has spread around the town to furthermore confirm people's belief that the place is haunted.

i have to say that i am not a believer in ghosts, spirits or even god or the bible but it is interesting none the less.

now i have the perfect oil painting for my location, its an early 19th century religious painting , what i am looking to know is the exact name for a piece like this, is it an icon? and should i frame it, if yes what type of frame should i be looking for?

Hi
Briana I do not mind you advertising the location of your antique centre. NAME AND SHAME
It sounds an interesting place. May be the other dealers in the centre would like to contribute to the Antique Spot.

There are a lot of believers out there referring to the subject Paranormal activity and I have purchased many items over the years that may make me a believer. Which in time I may post about. I do understand that there are some people simply cannot wrap their minds around the fact that we are not alone.

the first day we moved in a piece of furniture was left overnight in the hallway waiting to be moved into place, when we arrived the next morning a holy medal was lying on top of the table and the dealer nor anyone else admitted to putting it there.

the cleaner probably just found the medal on the floor and put it on the chest.

You better be careful................ Look what happened in Lourdes.
One minute Our Lady, the next thing thousands of tourists and pilgrims.

Now back to your painting. A Typical painting of the Madonna and child. Probably painted in the Victorian period and a copy of one of the Italian masters. Look at the long Roman nose.

Your painting come out of the Roman side of Christianity and the Icon comes out of the Greek side of the Christian Faith. I suppose both are Icons but we would not refer to your painting as an Icon.

My advice is leave it as it is and sell it for between £125 and £175 retail

thanks for the advice john..

and yeah a few days later a tour guide was stopping his crowd at our centre and explaining the fact it was an old convent and was supposed to haunted along with the fact about the medal i mentioned.

so was the medal on the table thing a sign from above or just a genius peice of advertising from one canny dealer in the antique centre.