To use
this site, click on one of the categories on the left which best suits
your interest. Any pictures on the site can be enlarged by clicking
on the picture. This HOME
page will try to show how you can be a smart shopper and avoid the
pitfalls of internet buying and in particular, to stop you from buying
a fake from the many sellers who make their living this way.
THE FAKES
will show you an exact picture of the items. For some reason, most
of them have had the "Made in Taiwan" or "Made in
China" stickers removed. All Tiffany fakes offered for sale
on the internet are not shown on this site.
TIFFANYFAKES.COM
is dedicated to stopping the sale of fake, fraudulently signed and
questionable Tiffany Studios pieces being sold on internet
auction sites. The reason is to protect the many dealers and collectors
of real Tiffany Studio items that suffer every time a fake is sold
or shown. This site will show with pictures and articles, those items
that are fakes and the sellers of them will be identified and placed
on our SELLERS TO WATCH page.
CURRENT
FAKES ON EBAY
will be shown and will remain even after the sale has been completed.
COMMENTS
AND QUESTIONS
is your chance to tell your opinion, make a comment or ask a question.
There
have been requests for the best source of information regarding the
marks used by Tiffany and the best and cheapest reference comes from
Antique & Collectors Reproduction News and is copyrighted
2004. It is titled Bronzes With Fake Tiffany Marks and
is 5 pages in length. Many but not all of the current fakes are shown
in this very informative article and it shows the marks used and describes
the differences in finishes. They are constantly updating dealers
and collectors with news of the current fakes by McCoy, Weller, Roseville
and Van Briggle plus many of the very expensive pieces that are being
faked. For the more advance collector we suggest Louis C. Tiffany's
Glass - Bronzes - Lamps by Robert Koch which can usually be
found on Ebay for around $30.00 and the best of all is Tiffany
At Auction by Alastair Duncan which can sometimes be found
on Ebay selling in the $500.00 to $800.00 range. Duncan published
a new and improved bible on all things Tiffany and it is named Tiffany
- Lamps and Metalware
and sells for approximately $130.00. Many many pictures to help you
identify the real from the fake. It is still difficult and the best
and the safest way is to deal with one of the many respected Tiffany
dealers which can be determined by references from other collectors.
There are
a few real basic rules that could save you a lot of money when buying
Tiffany on Ebay. Read them carefully.
1. Never
buy unless there is an absolute guarantee in the listing that the
item offered is genuine and this guarantee should be backed with a
statement to the effect that the seller will take it back if not genuine.
2. Always
be sure and see the bottom or base of the item. Most pieces will be
signed and when a seller tells you it is signed but fails to show
you the signature, that seller is usually hiding something. Also remember
that signed Tiffany does not make it Tiffany.
3. The
most expensive frauds are committed by sellers with vague addresses
- Southeast US, Tiger Country, Home of the Brave, South of the Border
and our all time favorite Route 66.
4. Always
read their feedback and when they have none, shut you checkbook. Feedback
can be gained by buying a lot of cheap junk to make a higher number
and by reading their feedback closely, you will see what they are
about.
5. Check
their past sales looking for sale of high end pieces and when it is
not there, be careful about who you are dealing with.
6. Provenance
is important but it is not the story - "the owner says it is
Tiffany" is not provenance.
7. Be very
careful when you see Tiffany offered by a "selling service"
becuase they will not stand behind the product and when you pay, the
money is gone.
Remember
that the items posted on this site are the opinions of several advisors
to the site. If it were easy to tell the real from the fake, this
site would not be necessary and you should use your own judgment regarding
the items shown on the site. There is no secret agenda, no maliciousness
is intended and we have no financial interest in the outcome of any
auction or sale.
Particular
attention should be given to glass items as they are the most difficult
to determine good from bad and we suggest if you are contemplating
a purchase, you should consult someone with broad Tiffany experience.
We will
correct any mistakes brought to our attention immediately but it must
be from a recognized authority. The major auction houses, the recognized
experts and the common person have all made mistakes and we share
that distinction with them.
If there
is anything on the site that offends you, do not visit the site.