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When buying items be very careful if you are paying genuine prices. There are a lot of modern copies and reproductions about. If you like the item there is nothing wrong with buying it providing you are told what it is and it is priced to reflect this.

For some reason, most copiers seem to make some fundamental mistake whilst trying to deceive. For example recent Carltonware ceramic Guinness items had the bands between the colours clearly defined whereas on the originals the colours bled into each other. Clarice Cliff fakes are often painted before glazing takes place whereas the originals were painted over the glaze.

There is no substitute for learning as much as you can about the things you are buying and buy from a reputable source. Always ask if an item is genuine, reproduction, a copy or 'in the style of'. Always get a receipt with a full description and confirmation of the age of the item.

Fakers are reproducing the most mundane items, even those from recent times which have relatively small values so care is needed whatever you are thinking of purchasing. It is very easy to assume that because there are some antiques at a location, everything is genuine. This, in our experience, is not usually the case and few locations mark items as reproduction or copy.

This is a small list of things we have encountered which are not what they seem to be:

Murano Glass made in Taiwan.

Plastic `Scrimshaw'

Fake Clarice Cliff.

Lots of modern pottery in the style of Clarice Cliff.

Fake Carltonware.

Modern cast iron money boxes (look for Phillips screws).

Modern tinplate toys which have been aged by a short burial.

Art Deco and other bronzes made of resin and powdered bronze.

Art Deco and other style glass.

Horned gramophones.

Furniture of all kinds

Items marked 'Style'. I.e. Art Nouveau style, Art Deco style.

etc, etc.