Genuine Onnaing Base Click photo to enlarge	GENUINE Click photo to enlarge Fake Onnaing Chemin de Fer Pitcher #2 Click photo to enlarge	FAKE Click photo to enlarge Fake Chemin de Fer Base #1 Click photo to enlarge Fake Onnaing Chemin de Fer Pitcher Base #2 Click photo to enlarge
Genuine Onnaing Chemin de Fer Side View Click photo to enlarge
Genuine Onnaing Pitcher Back View Click photo to enlarge
The Frie-Onnaing Chemin de Fer Pitcher is one of the most well-known pieces produced by this faiencerie.  They produced many different character pitchers and basically all of them are highly sought after, which also means they have the distinction of being some of the most copied pieces of majolica of all time.  A genuine Onnaing Chemin de Fer pitcher could sell for as much as $750-$800, while these knock-offs retail for about $35-$40 each.  Currently I’m seeing two common knock-offs of this pitcher, though that doesn’t mean there aren’t other fakes out there.  I’ve included photographs of these 2 common copies in the photos above.  The first thing to notice are the colors.  None of the fakes have the colors right.  One thing I notice over and over again in the current fake production is their inability to reproduce the turquoise and deep red that was so popular for the interiors in French majolica at the turn-of-the-century.  For this reason, some on-line sellers (at least, those who know better!) appear to avoid posting photographs of the interiors of their pieces.   In addition,with this particular pitcher there is a pouring spout in the bill of his cap.  One of the fakes (the smaller photo above) does include the spout; the other fake does not.  The molding of the genuine Frie-Onnaing pitcher is much more crisp and clear than on the fakes, not to mention that the proportions, especially in the detailing around the base, are completely off in the copies. The bases for the fakes are larger and more clumsy than Frie-Onnaing's; nor do they have any colored glaze on the base; nor do they carry any of Frie-Onnaing’s maker’s marks.  I have shown one Onnaing mark in the photos above, but there are many others.  I suggest consulting this reference website to see all the different possible Onnaing marks.  Note that one of the fakes is marked N or No 775.  This is the same number as is carried on the genuine Onnaing, but the key here is the N or No which marks it as a knock-off.  The other fake is marked with an intricate mark that is very obviously a fantasy mark in imitation of another renowned French faiencerie, Fives-Lille.  Both of these fake-makers are made in China, and apparently with the intention of deceiving buyers.  The producer of pitchers marked this way has been making fakes for at least 10 years, as that's when I first ran into them.  You'll find these fakes all over Ebay, in flea markets (especially in Europe), and even antique malls.  So be cautious in your shopping adventures out there!

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