To all of the people that visit Antiques.com looking for the perfect gift, trying to spruce up their home with a beautiful antique, or simply out of curiosity, thank you for coming!

And for everyone, vendors and antique aficionados alike, we’ve recently added a few features to our home page that we think you’ll enjoy!

- First, check out the Deal Of The Day – Each day we’ll offer a new deal from a vendor that is eager to give you a beautiful antique for a steal!

- Next, feast your eyes on the Cool Antique Of The Week – Each week we’ll show you something interesting from the site that is available to be purchased and fawned over by it’s new owner!

- And finally, have some fun with What Is This Antique? – Each week we’ll choose a new and interesting, if not a bit obscure, antique to feature for this game.  Take a guess, or several guesses, at what you think it is, and then each Monday we’ll publish the list of guesses submitted by everyone, along with the actual name and description of the antique.

Antiques.com strives to offer a wide variety of beautiful and interesting antiques, collectibles, and fine art pieces.  We’re looking forward to another stellar year where we add to our already impressive list of vendors and push our inventory to over 100,000 items!  So Happy Birthday To Us!  We’re looking forward to another fantastic year!

This chest is actually made around 1950.

How can you tell?  A closer look behind the chest is the giveaway.

The back of the chest and the bottom of the drawers are made of plywood.

Plywood is an older wood, but a real Empire chest would have a solid back and the drawers would be solid also.

Below are a few images to help you identify old from new:

Take a look at the back – does this look like a solid back?

Here is a reproduction drawer base in plywood.

Here is an old drawer base. (Neo Renaissance chest 1890 ) It is made of solid wood.

By the end of the sale, the lamp had sold for $1,750,000 (plus buyer’s premium).  At the time, it was the 2^nd highest price achieved for a Tiffany lamp at auction. I thought to myself, “Who pays that kind of price to light a room?”

That question brings me to another one…Are reproductions something you should buy?  The answer is yes, and no.

Not everyone has $1,750,000 to spend on a lamp, but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be able to acquire something similar if they like the look. So, if it fits within their budget to pay, let’s say…$350 for a similar, new lamp – should they walk away because it’s not the real thing?  I would have to say no.

Now, should the same person buy a reproduction of a lamp that sold for $1,750,000 thinking that one day said lamp will be worth a similar price?  Definitely not.

Someone told me once that a reproduction is the finest form of flattery.  And if you think about it, it’s true.  I personally see nothing wrong with a reproduction as long as you are told it’s a reproduction and pay accordingly.

Reproductions also aren’t the same thing as fakes.  A “fake” item is meant to deceive.  A reproduction doesn’t start out life as something meant to fool. The only thing potentially “bad” about a reproduction, is the person selling it.

There isn’t a category of collecting I can think of that doesn’t have reproductions of some form.  Most of them have some sort of marking that lets you know the item is new (for those not well versed in collecting such items).  What we find happening with these tags, or signature, stamps etc, is the end up being removed by a seller, and then placed on the market as an original.  Nine times out of ten, if you were an seasoned collector, the lack of mark or tag would not fool you, however it works on new collectors enough times to keep the bad people doing it again and again.

Reproductions can be quite profitable for the less than honest seller. They are bought for a fraction of the cost of an original, and are sold (and auctioned) commonly for a retail price.

There are numerous sites on the Internet that educate buyers on reproductions.  With a few clicks of the keyboard, you can read all about what to look for, where it comes from, and what they are selling for new.

There are also a few publications that are handy guides to take along with you on your antiquing jaunts. Amazon.com offers: Antique Trader Guide to Fakes and Reproductions by Mark Chervenka.

Remember, the more you educate yourself on the type of items you collect, the better versed you’ll be when faced with making decisions to buy…or not to.

Recognized 20th Century Decorative Arts Expert and Appraiser.  As seen on CBS “The Early Show” and NBC’s “The Art of Collecting”. Haines has written numerous articles and books on collecting. Her most recent pubication is “Collecting Wristwatches” for Krause Publications which comes out April 2010.  Reyne is a frequent appraiser on PBS Antiques Roadshow.

Reproduction is on left, original on right

Nothing strikes fear in the hearts of collectors like finding out that their beloved collectible is being reproduced. The mere mention of the ‘R’ word causes blood pressure to soar as prices plummet in even the most established collecting market. Yes, reproductions are the scourge of the collecting world. But is it ever acceptable to buy one?

Before answering that question, understand the difference between a ‘reproduction’ and a‘re-issue’. A ‘reproduction’ is a copy of an original, usually made to fool the unsuspecting or un-educated into thinking it’s the real thing. Reproductions are made to deceive. A‘re-issue’, on the other hand, is the re-introduction of a previously produced item by the original issuing company. Re-issues are generally manufactured so as to distinguish them from their older counterpart, thus maintaining the integrity of the original issue.

So, returning to the question, is it ever okay to buy a reproduction antique or collectible? The answer depends on the item.

When it comes to one of a kind items, reproductions are a way for the masses to admire the originals without traveling the world. Everyone knows that the Mona Lisa hanging in your hallway is not the original. Likewise, the Declaration of Independence decorating the school lobby and the Pieta in the church foyer pose no threat to the genuine articles.

When it comes to reproducing styles, like Tiffany style lighting (that ubiquitous term for any stained glass lamp presently being sold on TV) or Mission style furniture, once again, companies are expanding the appreciation of classic design by making it affordable for everyone. As long as they don’t present their Mission chair as authentic Stickley or that butterfly nightlight as newly discovered Tiffany warehouse stock, there’s really no problem with adding such designs to your household décor.

Ah, but when it comes to reproductions that are made to fool the buyer into thinking they are getting the real thing, well, that’s a different thing entirely. There is no justification for buying -or selling – deliberately counterfeited antiques or collectibles. Ask any sports memorabilia collector what they think of fake baseball cards and forged autographs and you’re in for a long and animated recitation. And Lalique collectors will echo their sentiments if you try and convince them that the copy is as nice as the original.

There comes a time in every collectors life when he/she makes a bad purchase and ends up with something that’s not authentic. Everyone makes mistakes, it’s part of the learning process. But don’t compound your mistake by trying to recoup your money by passing the reproduction off to some other unsuspecting collector. Instead, use it as an educational tool: send a picture to your collecting club so they can spread the word. And if it’s one they already know about, then immediately destroy it and think of the money you spent as an investment into the long term value of your collection. When the value of your collection continues to grow, you’ll be thankful you did.