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"Cupid Awake" and "Cupid Asleep"

By Miss Mikee, 1 May, 2009
Description

I was given these photos in mismatching frames so I thought nothing of it and hung them over my toilet. One day I was looking at them and realized that they had a 1897 date on them. After researching the publisher, copyright, etc., I got curious. I don't necessarily want to sell them but how often do you come across something that might potentially be a peice of valuable history............ for free.

Category
Art Deco and Art Nouveau
Medium
Photograph
Distinguishing marks
M.B. Parkinson
Condition
Excellent
Size and dimensions of this item
5x7
Date Period
1897
History
Gift. They just look like antique photographs based on the paper, front and back, and distinguishing marks.
eBay Auction Link
For Sale?
No
Photos
Profile picture for user kathyBeh

kathyBeh

16 years 1 month ago

Re: "Cupid Awake" and "Cupid Asleep"

Hi, This set of photos was discussed at length here a few months ago, please do a site search for them for more info.

No votes yet

Anonymous (not verified)

16 years 1 month ago

In reply to Re: "Cupid Awake" and "Cupid Asleep" by kathyBeh

Re: "Cupid Awake" and "Cupid Asleep"

Quite right;~)This the topic that never dies, so let's put it to rest with a little context. I am a Professional Appraiser, that's what I do all day, every day. My family has been in the Antique trade since 1959, an offshoot from our furniture design and manufacturing business established in the 1930's. So when someone who has been in the trade as long as me suggests that something is mass produced,not rare or valuable you can pretty much take that to the bank;~)

If anyone still needs proof click here:

http://www.liveauctioneers.com/search?q=cupid+awake&&sort=relevance&dty…

And here:

http://www.liveauctioneers.com/search?q=cupid+asleep&hasimage=true&dtyp…

Lovejoy

No votes yet
Profile picture for user kathyBeh

kathyBeh

16 years 1 month ago

In reply to Re: "Cupid Awake" and "Cupid Asleep" by Anonymous (not verified)

Re: "Cupid Awake" and "Cupid Asleep"

I would imagine that most of the frames are worth more than the re-prints.

No votes yet

Anonymous (not verified)

16 years 1 month ago

In reply to Re: "Cupid Awake" and "Cupid Asleep" by kathyBeh

Re: "Cupid Awake" and "Cupid Asleep"

That's correct, decent frames are often worth more than the print ;~)Antiques are a very interesting business, value is often a matter of perception, folklore and greed....

We see a lot of this, people have a print that's hung in great Grandma's house since 1898 and think it's very valuable, but in reality it's often an illustration great Grandma cut out of an old calendar she liked, or a mass produced print like "Cupid" she bought at the local Five & Dime.

We also know of a Dealer who was using a high end printer and 20lb paper at one of those " Quicky Copy" type places, running off copies of sought after 19th Century lithographs such as Currier & Ives. He hung them in consignment Flea Markets in old frames with no claim or identification of the print, only that the frames were antique with price tags for a quarter the value of an original high end print.

What is interesting is they were purchased by people who had a good idea of what an original print by "Currier & Ives" was worth, and thought they were looking at the real item, but none of them informed the dealer " did you know that's a rare Currier & Ives worth about about $1600.00? " They just snickered to themselves at the dealers ignorance, bought the phony and ran for the door ;~)

He's been caught a few times, but nothing ever came of it because he was very careful to never make any claim regarding the print's originality or age, only that the frame was antique. The buyers were caught out by their own greed.

Lovejoy

No votes yet
Profile picture for user kathyBeh

kathyBeh

16 years 1 month ago

In reply to Re: "Cupid Awake" and "Cupid Asleep" by Anonymous (not verified)

Re: "Cupid Awake" and "Cupid Asleep"

There are many "digital artists" as they call themselves nowadays on Ebay selling photocopies that they make of other peoples art prints or other peoples photographs. I know that the originals have to be copyrighted and wonder if there is anyone out there who ever catches these people. The Currier & Ives for example must be copyrighted.

I purchased a set of hummingbird prints that looked like the Victorian prints you see in the old Audubon catalogs etc. When I got them they where 8x10 photocopies the lady printed at home of a framed picture that looked like she took off her wall. The frame was even visible in the photocopy. Unbelievable.

When I complained she claimed to be a well known digital artist blah blah blah. I got my money back.
I saw on her Ebay feedback that she had already sold hundreds of 8x10 copies of a famous Marylin Monroe photo that I am sure she has no right to reproduce.

Same goes for the Cupid photos, people on Ebay are selling their home printed copies.

No votes yet
Profile picture for user Joseph

Joseph

16 years 1 month ago

In reply to Re: "Cupid Awake" and "Cupid Asleep" by kathyBeh

Re: "Cupid Awake" and "Cupid Asleep"

Interesting information. I had no idea that there were so many "digital artists" copying other people's work only to resell them on eBay. Pretty pitiful! I guess this goes to show that artwork, at least of any value, should always be seen in person first. That's why I can't emphasize enough that when doing an online appraisal for art you must always have a bona fide expert appraise your art in person as well.

No votes yet
Profile picture for user Lovejoy

Lovejoy

15 years 5 months ago

In reply to Re: "Cupid Awake" and "Cupid Asleep" by Joseph

Re: "Cupid Awake" and "Cupid Asleep"

Some of the copies are legitimate stuff and labeled as such. Last time I was in London England there was a high end Antique shop on King's Road that specialized in 17th -19th Century botanical prints, but they also offered copies produced on top of the line digital equipment on archival paper. The only discernable difference between the originals and the copies was the watermark they used on their paper.............

Lovejoy

No votes yet

Judy Post Stogsdill

15 years 5 months ago

In reply to Re: "Cupid Awake" and "Cupid Asleep" by kathyBeh

Re: "Cupid Awake" and "Cupid Asleep"

In reading the posts I understand that many of the cupid prints have been recreated over the years. Does anymore know the location of the originals and if there was just one original or a set original numbered prints? I have these prints as many do, but mine were purchased as a wedding gift from my Grandfather on their wedding day. they have the 1800's date on them and according to when they were originally created it was very shortly before they were married. They are still in the original frames, even though the frames are very weathered. Any information would be greatly appreaciated as I am also an author who is using these photos as a story line in my next novel. Any information I get that I can use I will be sure to include the source or sources in thanks with the publishing as it is extremely important to me. You can also e-mail directly as [email protected]. Thank you

No votes yet
Profile picture for user Lovejoy

Lovejoy

15 years 5 months ago

In reply to Re: "Cupid Awake" and "Cupid Asleep" by Judy Post Stogsdill

Re: "Cupid Awake" and "Cupid Asleep"

Anything you need to know about the prints has already been discussed at length, click here for further information:
http://www.instappraisal.com/search/node/cupid%20awake%2C%20lovejoy

Lovejoy

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