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We all know that fake and reproduction antique
majolica is a problem that both collector and dealer face. We believe that it is a problem best addressed by collector
and dealer together, hand in hand. This page is Shantique Gallery's effort to do just that and we hope for you,
the collector, to help us make this happen. Here you will find examples of recent "majolica" being produced
primarily by factories in China and that is currently available in the marketplace. Sometimes they are offered
for sale as just what they are...modern copies of antique or vintage majolica. But sometimes, they are marketed
as authentic antique majolica.
It is this which we hope to help combat with this feature of our website.
We confess to a slant toward addressing fake and reproduction French and Austrian antique majolica since that IS our
specific area of interest. Each week we will add a new piece to this watch page and will feature the "Fake of the
Week" on our homepage...in hopes that there comes a time where this "Fake Watch" page is no longer needed.
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REAL
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Wilhelm Schiller Majolica Art Nouveau Vase Note the proportions are off, the modeling is close, but not identical, and the base and flowers are clumsy
compared to the original on the left. The detail is sadly lacking on the fake when compared to the real one.
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Minton Majolica Nautilus & Merman Centerpiece Aside from just not even being close to the original, the cherubs on the fake lack Minton's detail and they are on
the wrong side, and the mermen at the base are clumsy & lacking in detail. The modern fake is currently available
(2008) with a cobalt blue or cream background. This fake has been around a while: I first saw it about 8 years ago.
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Minton Majolica Figural Rabbit Centerpiece This is just one of several different fake versions available in the marketplace today. However, none
of the fakes can compare when viewed side by side with the real thing. The genuine Minton has a longer, more graceful,
look than the fake. The colors are off on the fake, the rabbits ears are too straight, and the leaves
lack Minton's detail. And that's just "scratching the surface"!
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Massier Majolica Floral Bird Bowl There's quite a discrepancy between real & fake on this one. First the fake has gone a bit overboard with the
birds by putting 9 of them on the bowl. The shape of the bowl is wrong, the bird colors are dark and drab, and the floral
pattern isn't even close.
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French Majolica Frie Onnaing Maitre D'Hotel Pig Pitcher This fake is just one of several different copies of the famous Onnaing "Maitre D'Hotel" Pig pitchers that
are currently being produced and marketed today. Some of the others have a closer coloration to the original than this
one does, but the modeling of the pitcher on those others is further off than this one is.
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French Majolica Frie Onnaing Iris Centerpiece The colors in the fake photo are off-in reality this fake's colors are much closer to the original than they appear in
the picture. On the fake, note the clumsy modeling of the base leaves, how thickly potted the piece is compared to the
original, the roughness of the irises at the top, and the wrong angle of the flowers in the center of the piece.
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French Majolica St. Clement Martin Pitcher This fake is much closer to the original as far as the molding is concerned than most fakes. The producer of the
fake may well have used an original pitcher to make a mold for their fake pitcher. Mold-wise, the bottom of the original
is flared a bit more than the fake, and the bird's beak is at a different angle. St. Clement offered these pitchers
in several glazes, so don't be misled into thinking that yours is a fake just because the colors are different than the
original St. Clement pictured here.
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French Majolica Frie Onnaing Coq Gaulois Pitcher The "Coq Gaulois" pitcher from Frie-Onnaing is one of the most widely copied of the French majolica pitchers.
There are several manufacturers making fakes of this model, and this is just one example out of many. Viewed side by
side with the original, the fakes are quite "clunky" in appearance, the proportions of the banners are wrong, the
colors are way off, and the details are completely lacking.!
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Austrian Majolica Wilhelm Schiller Art Nouveau Centerpiece The fake version of this centerpiece is available in two colors, cobalt like the original and turquoise. The fake thumbnail
photo links to a closeup of the available turquoise. This one is fairly close to the original, though the details on
the handles are off, the proportions of the bowl are off, the stand diameter is too thick, and the base features are clumsy
in comparison.
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French Majolica Massier Crane Vase The Massier crane vase was available in a variety of glazes, so don't be misled to thinking that yours is fake just because
the color isn't identical to the one pictured here. The better indication of "fake-hood" is in the modeling
of the piece. Note that the base on the fake differs from the original and the stance of the birds, especially the way
they are holding their heads. The colors on the fake do closely resemble colors that were known to be favorites of Massier,
but the modeling tells differently.
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Want to contribute to the Fake
Watch Page?
Do
you know of a fake you'd like to see featured?
Have a genuine piece that you know is currently being faked?
We are actively seeking photos or examples of
fakes and reproductions to feature on the Fake Watch Page. If you have photos of a fake or genuine piece that you know
is currently being faked and are willing to share them with us--we would be very grateful! You can email them directly
to us at info@shantique.com.
If you happen to run across a fake
or reproduction being sold at such national chains as Hobby Lobby, Michaels, Tuesday Morning, TJMaxx, Marshalls, etc.,
please drop us an email at info@shantique.com and we will make every effort to get ahold of an
example to feature on the site.
If we all work together, maybe we can get a handle of the "Majolica
Fake Problem"! At least, let's try!
We are a proud member of:
A Sampling of Antique Majolica from the Shantique Gallery Shop...
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Antique Austrian Majolica Art Nouveau Double Handled Teal & Burgundy Vase What a gorgeous vase this is! The glazing is superb in shades of deep burgundy, buff, pale green, soft brown, and the
palest of pink. This is not marked, save with the impressed number 5679 and the number 95, but I am confident that it was
made by Robert Hanke of Ladowitz, Austria. His pottery operated from 1882 to 1903. Several things lead me to think this is
his... see the item
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Antique French Impressionist Fontainebleau LeFront Rety Poppy Majolica Vase
This exceptional piece of French impressionist majolica features a stunning, naturalistic cluster of poppies in shades of
pink, carmine, lilac, blue, lavender, and white-all on a mottled gray background. It is signed by the artist, Rety, at the
lower right side. Rety was an artist that went to work for the renowned French artist, Theodor LeFront at Fontainebleau. LeFront
founded his workshop in 1872 and... see the item
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