Services
APOLLO offers clients a range of services to assist clients in the valuation, authentication & restoration of single antiquities & whole collections. Please contact us directly at [email protected] if you are interested in any of the services offered below.
TL Testing
TL Testing, or thermoluminescence testing, is a scientific method used to accurately calculate the age of terracotta and ceramic pieces and can assist in both the valuation and authentication of an item. A TL test requires one of our experienced technicians to take a small sample of the item, from various discreet locations, and have it tested in a laboratory. The test can accurately calculate the date I which the artefact was last fired +/- 300 years, and the full result is printed in a professional report.
At Apollo we TL test the large majority of our Chinese terracotta offered at auction as standard, as well as being professionally vetted, so you can buy with confidence.
XRF Testing
XRF Testing, or x-ray fluorescence testing, is a scientific method used to accurately calculate the composition of metal pieces and can assist in both the valuation and authentication of an item. This technique is often used by archaeologists to unlock the secrets behind newly discovered pieces. An XRF test report breaks down the elemental make-up of an item, and the process is entirely non-destructive. The full result is printed in a professional report.
At Apollo we XRF test the large majority of our gold jewellery, rare weaponry and Chinese bronze offered at auction as standard, as well as being professionally vetted, so you can buy with confidence.
Radiocarbon Dating
Radiocarbon dating is a scientific method used to accurately calculate the age of pieces that contain organic materials, such as wood, and can assist in both the valuation and authentication of an item. Radiocarbon dating requires one of our experienced technicians to take a small sample of the item, from various discreet locations, and have it tested in a laboratory. Radiocarbon dating measures the amount of carbon-14, a radioactive isotope of carbon, and calibrates this amount to calendar years. The full result is printed in a professional report.
Apollo uses Radiocarbon dating on particularly rare artefacts in our auctions and is available for pieces in your collection by special requests.
Custom Stands & Restoration
Our highly skilled technical team are responsible for the careful cleaning, maintenance and restoration of pieces in our extensive collection, and are available to work directly with clients on their own pieces. We pride ourselves on being able to conserve pieces of history for future generations, and our team loves nothing more than a challenging repair.
One of the most common requests is for custom stands to display antiquities in both homes and museums, these can made in a large range of styles depending on a client’s specific requirements.