March 2003 Alerts on Confusing Collectibles

Reproductions of mold-blown Gallé cameo glass often closely copy the designs and marks of originals. Clues: Real pieces are smooth inside and out; the insides of fakes have a rough texture left by grinding. The raised patterns on original pieces were wheel-polished and have a shiny finish; raised patterns on fakes are almost always frosted, matching the background area. Old cameo glass nearly always has a ground pontil showing concentric rings of different colors; new fakes do not. A pontil mark is a scar on the bottom made by the punty rod that held the glass for the glassblower. Any Gallé mark that includes the initials TIP is a fake. (For additional information, see Antique and Collectors Reproduction News, January, http://www.repronews.com/)

We first reported on reproductions of Sharon pattern Depression glass in the November 1976 issue of KOVELS. More than 25 years later, Sharon reproductions continue to fool collectors. The first 1970s repro was the Sharon butter dish, followed within a year by the cheese dish. The bases of these dishes are different, but they use the same top. Most new repros are made in Taiwan, and the roses pressed in the glass are clearly of poor quality. A major clue to fakes, however, is color. Anything dark green, cobalt, opalescent, or red is new. (See AntiqueWeek, December 23)

Two green and two blue reproduction glass eyecups (called “eyebaths” in England) have been reported by British Bottle Review (July-September 2002). Experts who inspected the eyecups judged them to be brand new. All four are chunky and “badly made,” and the bases on the blue ones are unusually large.

Is It Genuine? How to Collect Antiques with Confidence is a helpful new book in the Miller’s series (Octopus Publishing, London, $29.95). The book is filled with information about fakes, reproductions, fantasies, adaptations, and marriages. Illustrations show how an antique dressing table was converted to a sofa table, how an American antique secretary “improved” by Victorian carvings was restored to its original condition, how an 18th-century silver tankard was converted to a hot-water jug 100 years later, how to distinguish early 20th-century blown glass from early 19th-century examples, and how original Meissen figurines differ from high-quality reproductions by French artist Emile Samson (1837-1913).

Reproductions of classic cast-iron toy vehicles are flowing into the United States from China. Unlike older reproductions that were unmarked or marked with the reproducer’s name, new copies are marked with the name of the original maker-such as Hubley, Arcade, or Dent. Compounding the problem is the fact that many of the new repros are well made, with paint that matches originals. Clues to help you spot fakes: New toys are a bit heavier than old ones; the insides and bottoms of new toys are darker and sloppier than originals; and new tires, unlike old ones, are not made of rubber. (Jack Herbert, Antique Toy World)