Read the descriptions carefully when ordering collectibles and antiques from giftware catalogs. Sometimes they do offer old wooden bowls, pressed glass, toys or jewelry, but usually the item they are selling is a new exact copy of an antique, plentiful, and perhaps even a little different from the old one.

The Autumn 2016 catalog from the MoMA Design Store (MoMA is the Museum of Modern Art in New York City) offers Memphis jewelry. A necklace and earrings are pictured with the description “New Exclusive Limited Edition.” The words are in thin blue letters on a brown background that makes it difficult to read. The rest of the copy explains “Adrian Otabuenaga 1985–86. These original archival pieces, created by the Memphis Design Group in the 1980s, were handmade using the cloisonné process. Slight color variation adds uniqueness. Comes in original packaging. Silver-plated copper, rubber.” Then there are the expected numbers, names, size and prices.

I went online for more description of the necklace and read “an original archival piece.” To add to the problem, my catalog had no order form, just a phone number and email address on each page and a list of addresses for the stores in New York. I looked up the store phone number and asked for a clerk. When asked if the Memphis necklace was one of the original ones made in the 1980s, she said, “Probably.”

I bought Memphis jewelry when it was first sold in the 1980s. Some was still being sold after the Memphis Group stopped working so I thought the museum might have found some old stock. So I said “probably” was not good enough and asked for a manager. After a long wait, the clerk came back and said “No, it’s new.” And hung up. I was able to eventually get the necklace pulled from the case in the store so the mark could be examined. The mark on the new necklace reads “Adrian Otabuenaga” and below “ACME.” ACME is the company that produced the jewelry. Next, I located one of the original necklaces made in the ʼ80s. The mark on the original reads “ACME” and below “Los Angeles.” Online I found a website selling the exact same necklace and a lot of other Memphis jewelry, but all of it was sold in earlier years. Also looked at some candlesticks in the catalog that were made by a 1960s Danish designer. Same sort of sell copy, but on the order page it said the candlesticks were made in India. They had to be new. This is not the only catalog or store that sells an antique or collectible with misleading copy describing the old original item, never suggesting theirs is a new copy.

I might buy the Memphis necklace because I like it, but it will not have the resale value of an original and I am not sure that the quality is the same. Maybe I should look for an original at shows, shops and auctions, but do I know enough to spot a new one?