How To Spot a Fake

An antique always has a story to tell. Let’s just be sure it’s true. If your treasure hunts are serious investments, Senior Editor Julie Cole Miller reveals a few tips for making sure that you get what you pay for

Melissa Springer

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Tips of the Trade

This is just a sample of the pitfalls in the market. Arm yourself with:

plenty of research materials,
museum and gallery visits,
and a few tools, such as a black light and a magnifying glass.

And finally, it’s been said a million times: Work with a reputable dealer, one who will stand behind his or her pieces with a written description to back up the sale. I don’t recall getting a receipt for my little Eastern European “English” chairs. But that’s fine. I’ll take them―and realize that their only value is in the charm they bring to my dining room. The story they tell gets more elaborate by the day.