What to do with vintage that is true vintage but is a knock-off of the original product? This week’s fresh-to-market vintage asks that question. You look at enough vintage pieces and you’ll come across it. The thing is, some of the fakes are so good it takes other clues to help you figure out they are fake.
This urn, for example, looks Bavarian and is marked “Austria,” but it is actually an Asian knock off. Bavarian pottery was popular and prized, so as sure as night follows day, the knock offs were not far behind. Researching the stamp on the bottom of this piece led to a site of common fake backstamps from the era.
It is no less beautiful or well made than a Bavarian urn, and yet it is not at all what it claims to be. So what is its value and would a collector want it? What’s important is to make sure and be truthful with potential buyers. One would not want to get the reputation of being a seller of false goods.
The same question arises about the Roman numeral jacket in this week’s fresh-to-market vintage. It looks like an iconic Escada jacket, it’s the same quality as an Escada jacket, but it is not an Escada jacket. So what is it worth? And will anyone want to buy it?
1980s Jacket with Roman Numerals
This is the fake vs true mystery. This jacket came from the estate of a woman who shopped nearly exclusively at Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdale’s and Loehmann’s. Her closets were full of designer clothing and only designer clothing. Some of the garments from Loehmann’s, an off-price retailer, had their tags partially cut out. So I assumed that even without tags, this must be the Escada Roman Numeral jacket. But it’s not. Escada clothing is made in Germany. This is tagged as made in the USA. The quality is exceptional, far better than a knock-off would be. And yet, it is a carbon copy of someone else’s jacket. So what is its story? One way or another, it’s a great jacket.
Roman Numeral Women’s Jacket, $75.
-Laurie, NextStage Vintage
Napco October Angel
Birthday or birth month angels from the 1950s almost always include a symbol of the holiday that is celebrated in that month. Halloween can be fun or scary depending on age or personality. This angel’s mask is a not-too-scary Halloween mask, which I think is sweet. I have sold another October Angel holding a scary devil’s mask! I imagine it was purchased by an adult collector. There is still plenty of time to get some great vintage Halloween items for porch, home or party decor.
Napco Angel, $39.99
-Mary Ellen, AuntHattiesAttic
Vintage “George W. Horner Eclairs” Tin (c 1950s)
This vintage George W. Horner tin made me revisit my definition of the word “eclair.” I tend to think of the pastry which originated in France and obviously wouldn’t have been sold in a tin container. A bit of research led me to the fact that Horner was the owner of a British confectionary (similar to Cadburys) that created a variety of toffee-type candies, also known as “eclairs” which would have been appropriately packaged in a little tin like this one. And just in case you are now hankering for something sweet, here’s a recipe for eclairs (the french pastry type) from Food & Wine magazine and one for the best toffee candy ever from All Recipes. Enjoy!
Vintage G. W. Horner Candy Tin, $15
-Linda, Selective Salvage
Lupine Steel Brooch
The sculptural quality of this brooch is what originally caught my eye. The artistic use of coiled steel depicting the flowers, the matte and polished dichotomy of the leaves, and the sheer size of this brooch all make such a statement. The style is deceiving, as it could have been made anywhere from the late 1930s to the mid-1960s.
Sculptural Lupine Brooch, $35.95
-Pam, Vintage Renude
That’s the lineup, this week’s fresh-to-market vintage. Four vintage sellers, four points of view, four pieces of vintage to enjoy. We love putting together this post and look forward to it every week. We hope you look forward to it as well.
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