April Tip: Don’t be Fooled by Fakes

Dear Lee: You and I both like a good April Fool’s joke. When it comes to collectibles, though, we don’t want people to be fooled by fakes—and there are loads of them on the market. Here’s just a small sampling of fakes to watch out for: Coca-Cola signs. Some things to know: Coca-Cola never produced […]

Reproductions: Figural Napkin Rings

Napkin rings first appeared in France about 1800 and their use soon spread to other countries. In a proper middle-class family, cloth napkins were used for an entire week between washdays, with each family member keeping their same napkin. Each ring had a different mark or design to identify whose napkin it held. Soon napkin […]

Mickey Mouse Watch Repro

Something to watch out for. The original Mickey Mouse wristwatch, first made by Ingersoll in 1933, is being reproduced. It has a round dial with Mickey Mouse on the face, his arms serving as the watch’s hands and his yellow gloves pointing to the numbers. His feet are positioned just inside the numbers 5 and […]

Fake Fenton Art Glass — Tips on Spotting Reproductions

Reproduction or “Made in China” Fenton art glass has been appearing on online auction sites and even in antique store displays. You can spot the true art glass made by Fenton Glass artisans in America. Collectors should always look for Fenton glass marks, artist signatures and artistic style to determine if the piece is authentic. […]