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I have shown some pretty dreadful fake lamps here  on these pages and I hope this has helped some new collectors.

 

One might be surprised that any such as theese actually sell, but they do, every day, on eBay and a few independent  websites.

 






But can you tell which are fakes here??

 

 

 



 

Yes, it's a sort of trick question.

They are all fakes.

In fact the same master craftsman made both the middle one and the one on the left.

 

In fact these are all from the same hand. Sold on eBay but clearly as reproductions not genuine antiquities.

One wonders if the re-sellers are  so honest!

 











 

 

 

Here is the midlde fake again with another using the same mould for the discus though the lamp in it's entirety is slightly larger.

 



Let's take a closer look at these two:








 

 From David K

It helps tremendously to see two examples side-by-side and these are very good evidence of what to look for.

The slightly larger lamp is the more obviously fake - the "slip" looks more like applied colouring than a true slip -  but the smaller lamp is really quite good seen alone.

I get the feeling that the fakers aren't quite sure what they are copying.

These lamps seem to be imitating something in between:

 The classic Italian lamp: on the left below

(From:  http://www.romulus2.com/lamps/database/lamp.php?134 )

In which case they fall a long way short in every respect. 

 




And a provincial copy (probably Balkans): on the right above.

 

From:

http://www.romulus2.com/lamps/database/lamp.php?42

 

In which case, apart from anything else, the fabric and slip are still wrong.

  

Are these  discus designs simply made up or are they copied?

Look here>>>>


Roman volute lamps: The conversion of real scenes into fake ones

 Flashing Blades and Desert Islands

 

 

I'm going to acquire a few more from the maker and see if we can work out some clear distinguishing features.

So far it is:

1. They are slightly heavier than one would expect.

2. They are not properly "slipped" but are painted.

 

 

 

Which is real which is fake?





If unsure, go to the link above.

 

Flashing Blades and Desert Islands

 

2018 update

Really worth looking at David's section on fake lamps.

And the rest of his website , recently updated is of course worth perusing carefully.

http://www.romulus2.com/lamps/fakes/fakes1.shtml#common

 

More and more fake oil lamps (I'm sorry to say)