A euphemism is a mild or indirect word or phrase that substitutes for a well understood more direct description or adjective. The latter may elicit more emotion and power, the former is softer and often meant not to hurt feelings. Why be blunt if one can avoid it? Why be clear if one can obfuscate?
Why indeed! More direct language often more accurately captures what one is describing but our society seems to be moving to more “civilized,” some would say, speech. If someone from your organization’s human resources tells you that you are being “let go” that has a softer tone than “you are fired.” Pornography becomes “adult entertainment,” the former sounds illegal and sordid, the latter not so much. Use of the word prison recalls Cagney in a black and white movie. “Correctional facility” seems to imply rehabilitation instead of retribution. In a war instead civilian deaths might be termed “collateral damage.” “Elected official” seems more civilized than politician, or heavens forbid, career politician.
Yes, tact and sensitivity have their place. But use of these polite, mild, or indirect words or phrases in place of an unpleasant one, softening or toning down the impact of the original word of phrase, has its problems. Euphemisms can obscure the true meaning or intention behind a statement (such as leading a collector astray), resulting in confusion, miscommunication, or even deception. People can hide behind euphemisms and the true meaning of their statements.
All of which got me thinking about the Americana universe and the use of euphemisms therein. What phrases might collectors find that diplomatically address perceived flaws or negative qualities of antiques, perhaps hiding them in doing so? What phrases might collectors use to add “value” or to justify a recent purchased? I am sure I have not found them all but for entertainment I present the following.
As expected, is a term seen often in item descriptions. Yes, pieces from centuries past may have wear and tear. Many have been well used. The lack of such evidence of material culture may raise red flags. A chair without wear on the front stretcher for example. A dropfront desk with the lid pristine on the inside. But how much wear and tear are “expected,” and how much begins to detract from the antique? “As expected,” can be a euphemism for “crummy surface,” or “lousy condition” In these cases, “you really can find better.” – not a euphemism at all.
Conserved suggests a piece that is or was in a museum and has been lovingly cared for. Or that someone extremely knowledgeable went about rehabilitating the antique. The truth is changes were made to it – pieces were glued back together, missing pieces were crafted, the finish was enhanced. Was the piece desirable prior to its conservation? Conserved seems to suggest so but …
The terms refreshed or restored are more direct and less euphemistic but despite their directness also obscure. Was the item damaged, why was it “refreshed” in the first place, and was the cleaning or repairs major or minor? Does the marketplace or a fellow collector approve of the refreshment?
Deaccessioned accurately describes a piece that has been removed from a museum’s holdings and is being placed for sale. If the museum is a noted one, the piece’s cachet may rise in collectors’ opinion. But “deaccession” says nothing about whether the piece has merit.
Attributed to or of the circle of is another example. How strong is the evidence that the piece’s attribution has any confidence – baseball bat purportedly swung by Babe Ruth, fountain pen purportedly used to sign the Emancipation Proclamation. And what is the value of the piece if it is of “the circle of” and not by the noted craftsman himself?
Reportedly and probably are honest to a degree. The provenance as to craftsman, circa date, location, or previous ownership is not certain. But to what degree do reportedly or probably refer. Is the piece 95% certainty of being 18thcentury or 5%, is it very likely the piece was owned by the duke, or a rumor fed by whispers? Attribution even if uncertain seems better than no attribution at all, but is it?
Provenance issues seems to imply that ownership of the piece, often works of art, has missing gaps or is simply unclear. But it also is a way of saying the piece may have been stolen or looted. Euphemisms are wonderful, aren’t they?
Bought out of the house purports to fill in any missing gaps by suggesting that a piece was purchased from the family of the original owner centuries ago. That is true of some pieces and the provenance typically adds to their value. But for other pieces it simply was purchased from a house, apartment, condo, and the like. The term suggests strong provenance but only suggests it. A collector is well served to do his due diligence.
Evocative may be used to describe an antique in which its emotional impact is emphasized, while other positive qualities are unmentioned as are craftsmanship deficiencies.
Discovered is a term collectors may encounter for use for a piece that was unknown or lost to the Americana world and seems to imply positive attributes and good monetary value. It has a mysterious ring to it, promising a good story behind the piece’s entrance to the sunlight once again. But aren’t many pieces discovered? Isn’t that what a country auction down a narrow country road with several generations of belongings is all about?
Well loved, such as a teddy bear, table or chair is a way of saying that the piece is well worn or has condition problems. It may lead a collector to believe or be proud that despite wear and tear, or outright damage that the piece is still desirable, charming, and attractive.
Relic or Survivor connotes a piece that is to be treasured. But many collectors would respond: “I cannot believe someone didn’t throw it out decades or centuries ago.” The terms relic or survivor sound learned. But aren’t all antiques survivors in their own way?
Unique, Rare, or One-of-a-Kind suggests both scarcity and desirability. But while the terms such as unique form may be an accurate description of an antique it again says nothing about the piece’s style and connoisseurship qualities. The piece may be a knockout yet sometimes the term really is communicating: “there isn’t another one out there like this because no one wanted or asked a craftsman to make such an ugly piece of ____ (fill in the blank). Or the craftsman made two, they sat in his workshop or shop for years, and he moved on to what would sell. Perhaps three collectors in the Americana community would go head-to-head at auction to own the piece; perhaps not three collectors in the entire world would care about it.
Then there exists the term generous proportions, immense or monumental which truly can be euphemisms for big, large, pleasingly appearance challenged, ungainly, and so forth. Many antiques be they furniture or paintings have a size that is pleasing to the eye. A banquet table may have excellent proportions and be immense. But some antiques so labeled are out of proportion and loses their appeal. Can a case piece of furniture be obese?
Second-tier, eclectic, or box lots. These are the pieces auction houses must clean out – the odds and ends. Tell that to a consignor directly. So, a euphemism eases the way. The antiques have value but not a great deal. For example, they are not worthy of being included in a catalog. As Davis and Richmond described in Pump Up the Volume (Maine Antique Digest, May 2023) these pieces are the “lesser stuff.” They are the “common, the rough, and the bulk.” To be honest, they may be drek. Harsh words indeed to their owners and thus the euphemisms employed.
Bought well comes to mind. A collector’s goal – bought well means that a piece went for a fair price or perhaps was a steal. This may be true for good reasons and not be a euphemism at all. Perhaps the collector did his research and knew something about the craftsman or provenance no one else did. Perhaps the piece is part of an estate, and the executor told the auctioneer, “Sell it for what we can, we do not want anything returned to us.” Or the seller needs money and will take what he can get.
But the other side of the coin is that the phrase is a euphemism. It could be that the consignor’s piece brought a very low bid and sold. Bought well is a gentle phrase, much nicer than the seller, for example, got hosed. Of course, if a consignor has multiple pieces at auction, he may do better than he anticipated on others. Bargains have always been part of collecting and the seller may have purchased a few as well. All’s fair in love and collecting.
Keep in mind collectors’ responses to euphemisms may be subjective, with differing interpretations. I hope I wasn’t overzealous (too aggressive) or distasteful or candid (insulting) in my presentation of euphemisms. Everyone in the Americana world uses them at one time or another. They can make a collector smile and have an endearing quality about them.
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