Antika › Spotting reproductions and fakes
Spotting reproductions and fakes
Not every old-looking item is old. Reproductions are common and are not always sold dishonestly, but you should know what you are buying. These checks help you decide.
Reproduction, copy or fake?
A reproduction is a modern copy of an old style. Many are sold honestly as such. A fake or forgery is made or altered to deceive: for example, a modern vase with a forged mark. A marriage is a piece made from parts of different items, such as a cabinet top on the wrong base. Knowing the difference helps you ask the right questions. See antique, vintage or collectable for the general terms.
General signs
- Wear in the wrong places. Genuine wear is where hands, feet and use would cause it: edges, corners, drawer runners, chair arms. Wear in odd spots or too even a patina can mean artificial ageing.
- Uniform finish. Real age is uneven. A perfectly consistent dark stain on all surfaces is a warning sign.
- Smell and feel. Strong chemical or fresh varnish smells are not what you would expect.
- Weight and materials. Many copies use lighter or cheaper materials, such as resin instead of ivory-like material, or plated metal instead of solid.
Furniture
- Check the underside and back. Old pieces often show hand tool marks; modern machine cuts are very regular.
- Look at the screws. Handmade early screws are irregular; modern screws have a regular, machine-cut thread. A modern screw does not prove a fake, as repairs are common, but it should match the story you are told.
- Look at drawers: dovetails (the interlocking joints) were cut by hand on older pieces and are usually uneven; very neat identical joints suggest machine work.
- Check that the wood colour matches inside and out, and that the top, back and base belong together.
Pottery, porcelain and glass
- Check any maker's mark. Marks are copied, so a mark alone does not prove origin.
- Look for chips, repairs and restoration under strong light; ultraviolet torches show up some repairs.
- Feel the weight and the base. Modern copies can feel too thin or have a glaze that looks uniform and glassy.
Silver and gold
Look for a full set of hallmarks, with the pieces in line and crisp. The Assay Office London explains that a traditional UK hallmark has a sponsor's mark, a fineness mark, an assay office mark and an optional date letter. Be wary of blurry marks, marks on separate soldered pieces and marks that look cut out and applied. Our hallmarks basics page explains each mark. If a seller says silver is "sterling" but there is no mark, ask why.
What to ask the seller
- How old is it, and how do you know?
- Has it been repaired, restored or altered?
- Where did you buy it?
- Can you put the description on the receipt?
Good dealers will answer without fuss. If they cannot or will not, that is information in itself. See buying tips for more on receipts.
When to get a second opinion
For expensive items, ask an auction house valuer or a specialist dealer to inspect before you pay, or buy from a seller who guarantees authenticity in writing. No checklist replaces experience, and even experts disagree on borderline pieces. These notes are general guidance, not a guarantee of authenticity.
Frequently asked questions
How can I tell if furniture is genuinely old?
Look at the underside, back and drawer joints. Hand tool marks, uneven wear in natural places and matching ageing across all parts suggest age. Uniform staining and perfectly regular machine cuts are warning signs.
Is a maker's mark proof an item is genuine?
No. Marks are copied. Use them with other evidence such as materials, style, wear and provenance.
What is a marriage in antiques?
A piece made from parts of different items, such as a cabinet top fitted to the wrong base. It should be sold as such.