What does attributed to mean on a drawing?

It means the cataloguer believes the work is by that specific artist, but lacks the firm documentary proof to guarantee it. You often see this when a piece lacks a signature or clear provenance. Dealers use this term when the drawing technique, paper type, and subject match the artist's known output. It leaves a slight margin for debate, keeping expectations realistic.

I have a large sketch that has an old crease right down the middle, is that normal for pieces from this period or a defect?

A central fold is quite common. Artists frequently folded large sheets to fit them into portable portfolios or satchels when working outdoors. You often see these creases on large architectural plans and landscape studies. They are part of the object's working history rather than a later defect. Sometimes dirt settles in the crease, highlighting the fold. Conservators usually leave these alone unless the paper is actively tearing.

Can I flatten a curled paper drawing?

You should leave this to a paper conservator. They use specialised humidity chambers to relax the fibres safely. Applying pressure to dry, brittle paper usually causes it to shatter.

There are small pin holes in all four corners of my drawing, does this mean someone pinned it to a wall years ago?

Yes, that is usually the case. Artists pinned their sheets to drawing boards while working, and early collectors sometimes pinned them directly to study walls. These holes are minor historical details. They show how the antique drawing was used before modern framing standards took over.

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Antique Drawings

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Antique drawings span everything from rapid pencil sketches on loose paper to highly finished studies in chalk or ink. Artists produced them to work out complex compositions, record quick observations from life, or prepare detailed designs for subsequent paintings and engravings.