The Great Pretenders

For as long as there have been desirable objects that are out of reach for the common man, there have been copyists (forgers). Sometimes the fakes are so good that in terms of quality, they outshine the very thing they are pretending to be.

Of course a copy isn’t really a forgery unless it is marked in a manner intended to deceive. Edme Samson the French potter had a career as both forger and a copyist. His early pieces copying Chelsea, Derby and Meissen were marked in a way that closely resembled the originals, but later on after being challenged, he was forced to mark his wares in his own name. Edme was an incredibly skilled potter and his work is now collected in its own right.

Real Chelsea Plate Samson Chelsea Plate

The mid century coloured glass by Whitefriars is another target for the copyists. Fortunately, these pieces are easy to spot as the faked bases do not have the lovely concave ground and polished pontil. On close inspection they are also lacking in the quality of the original. Saying that, with some genuine mid century Whitefriars pieces fetching in the thousands, it’s nice to think you can still get the look without having to take out a mortgage.

Real Whitefriars Banjo Vase. Fake Whitefriars Banjo Vase

I myself have fallen foul of the forgers. I once bought what I thought was a David Andersen of Norway gilt silver and cloisonné Vesta. It had his mark and was identical. I only found out it was a fake by weighing it. Not a happy bunny particularly as I’d bought it from a reputable auction house.

Real David Andersen Vesta. Fake David Andersen Vesta

On the other hand, on a trip to Bali a few years ago, I had the pleasure of visiting the “100% Genuine Fake Shop”. I treated myself to several pairs of “Ray Bann” sunglasses in different colours for different outfits. I do actually own a couple of pairs of real Ray Banns and can honestly tell you that in terms of quality AND shielding your eyes, there is nothing between them. Believe it or not, that shop has a very good rating on Trip Advisor!

100% Genuine Fake Ray Banns

Tracy Skeates