Featured Tips on Collecting Antiquities

As we know, recognizing the real thing is difficult, especially when it comes to antiquities. Here are some excellent tips on what to look for when collecting antiquities, and how to spot fakes:

https://heliosgallery.com/antiquities/tips-on-collecting/

Obviously this advice only scratches the surface, if you want to delve into it more, there are excellent sites.
This is one I can recommend for more in-depth research into fakes:

http://www.collector-antiquities.co...ebusters-and-other-websites-about-fakery.html

And an extensive list of ebay sellers of fakes. The site focuses on 'ancient' coin sellers, but most of these sellers also sell other fake antiquities:

http://augustuscoins.com/ed/fakesellers.html

And, when in doubt, don't.
If something doesn't feel good, or if it comes from a war zone or a region known for looting, don't.
There are reputable sellers who sell items from old collections. Old collections are also sold by good auction houses, but even these can be fooled. So keep your eyes open, and do your homework.

 

Thanks, @Any Jewelry - great reference!

 

Bidamount keeps a list of Ebay sellers who sell fake Chinese/Asian antiques...not sure how often it gets updated but it has helped me avoid a couple of mistake purchases.

https://bidamount.com/ebay-dealers-selling-fake-chinese-antiques

 

As always you are a star. Thank you.

 

Also many countries have strict laws against the export of antiquities. Also if you think you are getting the real deal at a stand on the roadside in Egypt or in a market in Greece you are sadly mistaken and are likely purchasing cheap tourist replicas. If you did try to take an authentic piece home you would likely get arrested at the airport.

Lastly remember that just because it is old doesn't make it valuable, there are many very old things that are worth very little and are surprisingly commonplace. Stuff like Roman coins, they are everywhere and more are found every year in giant hoards uncovered during construction projects. Yes some ancient coins might be rare and valuable but that doesn't make them all rare and valuable, actually quite the opposite is true.

 

As I dealt primarily in old paintings, I found once the value starts to climb, the proliferation of fakes increases. I'm sure it's like that in all fields.
A "little knowledge being a dangerous thing" is a good thing to keep in mind too, as fakers of paintings will often target artists of somewhat obscure familiarity but with fairly strong price ranges.
Prior to the internet, dealers with access to the then expensive and hard to access great old foreign language art indicies such as Benezit and Thieme-Becker would be the targets of the faker.
A dealer might be offered a painting or perhaps undiscovered "family hoard" by a minor impressionist, rarely seen in the market -but with strong past sales records.
The dealer, who would normally scoff at a Corot or Renoir as a fake, would look up the obscure artist and on finding a decent bio, be fooled, and purchase the fake. From there, the fake could go anywhere before it was eventually seen by an expert and condemned. This has been the way for centuries and old fakes can be REALLY old!
Once I started buying paintings in the 5 figure range, fakes popped up everywhere, and yes, I too bought some in those days -I still have one, a Jan Sluyters that I paid over $10,000 for back in the early 1990's. It lives unseen in an old cupboard so I'm not reminded daily of my foolishness!!

 

Great references, and excellent advice, AJ...and all!