How to Recognize Fake Antiques

Fakes have been around almost as long as real antiques. If a guy can make a buck on something, he's often led into trying to make more by fudging a bit. Where does that leave the rest of us? We need to be pretty sharp when finding our old antiques.

How can we tell if what we find is a fake? There are some guidelines for wary pickers. First and foremost, spend time with the genuine article. The more you see of the real stuff, the less likely you are to be fooled.

Depression Glass was cheaply made and mass produced and you can usually see mold lines on the real pieces. Often you will see "straw marks" where the molds were wearing out. Newer glass will have none of the above. Watch out for pieces that appear slick, or thicker or more grainy than what you would expect.

Bronze fakes are often made of cast iron with a bronze plate. Magnets will easily stick to these items. If it sticks, it's not bronze!

Roseville Pottery is frequently reproduced. Watch the "s" in Roseville. It should have a slant to it. Look, too, at the quality of the glazing. It should not look shoddy or garish.

Furniture--look at the way the piece is made. Is the joinery consistent with its purported age and place of origin? What about tool marks, and hardware? Does the wood have the expected patina? Is there wear where there shouldn't be and none where you would expect it?

Fakers these days are really good at their craft, but they often use cheaper materials or put parts of several pieces together to make a whole, new piece. When I am in a house, I also look at the dust on the pieces. Are they as covered as the rest of the house? I also ask the seller when they got the item and try to find out as much history about the piece as I can. A final thought: some fakes were made a hundred years ago or more. That makes them an antique in their own right! So be careful!

Roger has been an antiques picker and dealer for over 10 years. During some of that time he was an auctioneer, too. Now semi-retired, he lives with his wife in the Caribbean.

There are a lot more tips and tricks for antique pickers at http://americanpicker.net

You can learn more about the antiques business at: http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/15269.htm