Antiques: Tips For Spotting Fakes And Reproductions

Anything of great value is copied, and in some cases, it is virtually impossible to tell a fake from a genuine item, especially when talking about antiques. There are skilled workers who use their talents to replicate an antique item of furniture, and some are so good, it is hard to tell the difference. If you are looking to acquire some antique furniture in the near future, here are some tips to help you spot the fakes and reproductions.

1- Looking For Signatures And Hallmarks

Many furniture makers leave some kind of mark on every item they create, which might be in a hard to find a place. If you are interested in a chest of drawers, for example, you should remove each drawer and look to see whether the dovetail joints are hand-made or machined, and there might be a hallmark or signature on the rear or underside of the item.

2- Get Educated

This is by far the best way to reduce the risk of being scammed, and the more you know about a particular era, the better. If you are a complete novice, you can be sure to get genuine antique and vintage style furniture from an established local antique dealer, who has a reputation to uphold. There are many free resources online that will increase your knowledge, and if you are genuinely interested in antiques, reading about them will be so much fun.

3- Don’t Be Afraid To Inspect

Obviously, one must handle antiques with the greatest of care, and by thoroughly inspecting an item, you are likely to spot anything out of the unusual. You could ask the seller about the history of the piece, and the answer might help you decide whether or not it is genuine.

4- Only Buy From Reputable Antique Dealers

A local antique expert makes his living buying and selling antique and vintage pieces and he is not about to tarnish his hard-earned reputation by selling you a fake item. Not only that, the dealer is likely to know a lot about the item’s history, which adds another dimension to owning such a piece of furniture. There are articles available online which will provide you information on how to tell a genuine antique from a fake, which every novice should read.

5- If It Seems Too Good To Be True, It Is Probably A Reproduction

One way dealers sell fakes is to drop the price significantly, citing reasons, such as, ‘I picked it up cheap and I am passing on the savings to you”, or “I need the space”. If you are unsure about any item, ask for a professional evaluation, which will give you peace of mind, if nothing else.

Once you have the basic knowledge about what is real and what is not, you can spend some time scouring the car boot and garage sales, where you might be lucky and pick up something valuable for next to nothing. The best way to become knowledgeable is to forge an alliance with a UK-based online antique dealer, who can help you to make the right acquisitions.

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**The article Antiques Tips for Spotting Fakes and Reproductions first appeared on Live Well Be Fabulous on July 12, 2019, and was written in partnership with our friends at mediabuzzr.net**