Rosevile fakes news

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A very big THANK YOU to Karen for this service!

BTW, in addition to the colors listed for fake White Rose 985-8' on her site, there is a green version. Color is dull (think Army uniform); the paint on the flowers is about 1/8' off from the raised pottery area it is suposed to cover; leaves have no veins or other texture.

Does anyone else know of any other Roseville fakes that should be added to her list?

I've been telling my spouce about these, and recently had the opportunity in an 'antique' shop to say VERY loudly, 'Look Honey. there's those Roseville fakes I've been telling you about. Only the visually impared could EVER mistake that for original!'

GOOD FOR YOU! Another guerilla tactic!

And, you WERE equipped with your pre-lettered FAKE and REPRO stickers to place neatly next to the pricetags?

This brings up a question I have been bothered with. When you find a reproduction for sale that is priced at 'real' price, should you tell the dealer it is repro? Sometimes the dealer believes they are offering something genuine for sale and should be told otherwise. Of course, they may know it is fraudulent and not appreciate being told. If a dealer has only one repro for sale, I will give them the benefit of the doubt. If they have several repros for sale I always assume that nothing they are selling can be trusted. The 'Fake' sticker definitely has a lot to be said for it, but how many times does the sleazy dealer just pull it off and go ahead trying to swindle people? Just wondering,

Not an answer to your question, but an anecdote:

I was at an auction north of San Diego this summer which featured lots of fake Roseville and a few real pieces. One of the fakes still had half of a 'CHINA' sticker on it. During the inspection period before the auction, I commented loudly about the fakes, then wandered over to the auctioneer and asked whether he planned on vouching on the authenticity of the Roseville, pointing out that one still had the 'CHINA' sticker on it. He responded that he wasn't going to say anything one way or the other since he 'really didn't know pottery'. About five minutes later, I noticed that the 'CHINA' sticker had 'mysteriously' disappeared.

If the dealer is there, I say something like 'You're aware this is a repro, right?'

And if it's at an antique mall, I put a REPRO! sticker on it.

they may know it is fraudulent and not appreciate being told.

That's why I ask. You can immediately tell, by their reaction, what their intent is. If they do nothing about it, that's the cincher.

One fake, and I look at everything with a more- jaundiced eye.

I don't know - I've not had a chance to revisit the places (mostly huge, out-of-state antique malls.) What I DO notice, however, in most antique malls, is that merchandise sits and sits - in the same place. It's added to, of course. But if I've put a FAKE sticker on the bottom of a piece, it's not that noticeable by the dealer. The customer always looks at the bottom of a piece, but how many times does a dealer re-look at the bottom?

Perhaps we should all employ the sticker-method at various malls, and report our 'hits' here so that the Guerilla Squad - if in the area - can do a little bit of research.

If nothing else, hopefully it prevents the sale of the item for awhile.

In malls where nearly everything is a repro, I make the sales clerk aware that it's obvious. (and they are ALWAYS 'so shocked' - yeah right - to know that.)

I don't know who started this subject, but it's SO appropriately-spelled RoseVILE. (I've not seen anyone make that comment, so was compelled.)

Kris (often compelled)

I usually do. I came across what I think was a repro piece of production Rookwood. Don't want to scare anyone but I have read that a few turn up now and again. Generally, the are the production pieces, are usually lighter in weight, the clay is very very white, and the glazes aren't quite right. The one I found was a dark slate blue matte glaze. At any rate, I told the dealer I thought this piece was fake and she responded 'I'm still researching, I think it's an experimental'. Hah! People will try and pawn off anything on fools. Your best defense is knowledge and experience. Susan

You mean, as in compeled?

Really? More penance for me? Egads, red-faced again. Compeled Compeled Compleled complelellled