LOOKS CAN BE DECEPTIVE: Fakes & Forgeries

The way something looks doesn't mean that it is real. Most forgers take liberty to change the signatures that they were forging just enough that you could tell that it wasn't original.

Why am I telling you this today? This weekend I did an appraisal fair in Western Springs, Illinios for the Historical Society, and this story comes from that event.

A lady came to my station with a beautiful blue aurene bud vase for me to appraise. This was a rather large piece, and I thought perhaps it would be one of those special pieces we see once in a while.

Turning the piece over, there was the name you hope to see: Tiffany. However, I had never seen a Tiffany piece signed like this one. LCT TIFFANY INC FAURILE and perhaps ten numbers, it seemed a little strange to my eye. So, all I could do at the time was to tell her that if the mark was correct, then the value would be such and such. You see all that shine isn't always gold.

Returning home, I consulted my flash cards of real and fake marks and couldn't find this combination, so the search goes on. But you can be assured that I won't stop until the mystery is solved. These flash cards could be bought from the classifieds in the AntiqueWeek or Antique Trader at one time and they may still be available there.

In the past, there were many companies producing beautiful art glass, but the top of the line was Tiffany. Every so often, a forger would take a piece of Stueben or other glass and mark it Tiffany to increase its value. The strange thing is that today it might well be as valuable with the original name as the forged one.

Fakes and forgeries are widespread today, so be sure to consult with a person familiar with the marks of the company that is being represented. These people that are doing this have taken just a little fun out of our business, but if you're careful about this, it won't be a problem for you. This practice is showing up in all areas of our business: Pottery, Metal, Furniture, Glass, Paintings and many others.

By the way, I did see some wonderful things at the event, and the best might have been a mechanical bank in the form an elepant where the tail raised the trunk to deposit the coin. This wonderful piece still retained 95% of its original paint and was in mint condition otherwise.

I would like to thank MIR Appraisal Services,Inc for inviting me, and I hope to do many more events with them. If you need appraisals, you can find them in the Chicago phone book. They are located on Michigan Ave.
Be sure to visit our web site for more information about how you can join the 31 Club and start your own race to your millions! Read more about it here!"The Guy in the Red Tie" --- Daryle Lambert

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