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    • IS THIS A GENUINE PIECE?
      • Is this genuine?.. PAGE 2
    • IS THIS A GENUINE PIECE: Section 2
    • IS THIS GENUINE ? section 3
    • Is this genuine or fake? section 4
    • Is this genuine? section 5
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    • Is this genuine, section 7
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    • Is this genuine? section 9.
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YOU ARE HERE:>>REAL OR FAKE>>Is this a genuine piece?

This cornelian intaglio (20mm) is from the Moustaki collection.

But that does not guarantee authenticity!

The style is very crude and the incised writing does not really make any sense.

Can anyone read it?

Be more than interested to know.

The website member sigragalli would also be interested to know as he now owns this.

     From Archaeos-gallery

This example of a Syro-Hittite figurine was acquired from Drouot.

It has been seen and said to be authentic by someone at La Reine Margot in Paris.

Binocular examination is said to shows black minerals deposits

I must say that  I'm  surprised.

All the information I have and the pieces I have seen in museums would suggest that these were invariably made in a very fine, unadulterated clay of a much lighter colour.

You say also, in your email that you have seen some examples in the Louvre which are similar.

Would be very interesting to see images of these. Indeed, given that fact, it would be extremely interesting to know what the people in the department at the Louvre make of your piece.

Let's see what others here say also.

..................................................................................................................

   Question from ilovemydoggy

A friend of mine owns a ring from ancient Egypt.

Please look at photos hereI am trying to determine value, as she wants to sell it.

It appears to be some kind of metal. Very interesting and looks quite old. The ring was given to her by a collector friend.

It has a certain charm, but I've never seen anything like it described as ancient Egyptian.

..................................................................................................................

      Question from tiglat-pilaser

I have some items in my collection I cant tell if real or fakes:(

First one is a ring, bought it as greek. The silver seems to be old, but the stile is strange.

Second is a seal I never saw this form. Looks like a syrian man, scene man kills lion.I bought it as sumerian,but 100% its never sumerian!

Maybe someone can help?Thanks a lot.

I'm afraid to say that in my eyes this is not an ancient piece. It looks neither Greek nor Roman.

The metal looks new in form and the style of the carving does not look Greek at all.  It's simply not fine enough!

Who sold it to you as ancient Greek?

Here is the seal piece

Hmmmmm.

Basically "Sumerian" in style but...........

Anyway lets see what others say.

The source of your acquisition will tell you a lot.

If from one of the many extremely dubious eBay sellers,

then a high chance, bordering on certainty, that it's not good. 

 Asgorath asks about these

The seller says:

The four pieces were given to me by my grandfather. I have no idea as to how valuabe they are. I was told they are over 2000 years old. The smallest ushabti is 3 and 1/2 inches tall. (9cm). The larger two are 6 and 1/2 inches tall. (16cm). The other piece of a female face is 4 inches tall and 3 inches wide (10cm tall, 7cm wide). 

I have emailed the seller today 26/7/05 telling him/her/it that these are dreadful fakes.

(They look like the stuff acquired by the hundreds from the notorious eBay sellers we know only too well.)  

I'm not likely to get a reply from the seller  (who is using the private auction mode!),  but watch this space!

6/8/2005  Never got any response.

   From Dik on the yahoo group

Hi,

1. The grey one (with the glyph's) has almost open hands, they should be more like fists because the shabti should hold a pick and a hoe in each hand.

2. The head is a fantasy product and this kind of wig with the ureaus was not invented by the old Egyptians as far I know.

3.  The shabti with the Ba-bird (the brown one) is also a product of modern imagination. The Ba-bird is much too big. Underneath the Ba one should expect horizontal lines with a spell, not other pictures.

4. The shape of blue one with the front register is totally wrong, the arms, the attributes, etc.

The seller writes:

The four pieces were given to me by my grandfather.....etc etc "

He does not tell that he thinks they are really old, so in my opinion he is not doing anything wrong. Ethically of course he is doing wrong. The man is trying to sell souvenirs as genuine (he must know they are), he is trying to convince the buyer (with the famous grandfather story) that this could be a treasure. This is how it works in bazaars too.

Rule 1. Don't buy from people with private feedback

Rule 2. Don't buy from people that hide the id's of the bidders (unless you know the seller personally and you can trust him).

Rule 3. If you see an ushabti with a Ba-Bird on it save a least 20.000$, because that is what you have to pay to get a genuine one.

Carpe diem,

Dik

           Is this a genuine piece? page 2