Buying Antiques

[ImaginalDisc]

I bought a balouch rug for my new place on ebay for very cheap hoping that the pictures of the front and back are accurate. At worst, I have a cheap, nice looking, machine made fake. Just looking at ebay for Navajo and Miao (Hmong) jewelery makes me cry. So much of it is obviously fake (I very much doubt any silversmith would have made "dead pawn" coral tie clips and kachina dolls.)

Is there any way to buy antiques online relatively safe from fraud and deception, or is it all caveat emptor?

[dudalb]

As someone who is very familiar with the world of Civil War Memorabilia,you reallly want to deal only with dealers who will provide a certificate of authenticity with a guaranteed refund if it is fake.
The fact is the faking of antiques has become a major industry.

[Geek Goddess]

I bought a balouch rug for my new place on ebay for very cheap hoping that the pictures of the front and back are accurate. At worst, I have a cheap, nice looking, machine made fake. Just looking at ebay for Navajo and Miao (Hmong) jewelery makes me cry. So much of it is obviously fake (I very much doubt any silversmith would have made "dead pawn" coral tie clips and kachina dolls.)

Is there any way to buy antiques online relatively safe from fraud and deception, or is it all caveat emptor?


Talk to Antiquehunter. He deals some in antiques and is fairly knowledgeable about specific areas.

[The Central Scrutinizer]

Talk to Antiquehunter. He deals some in antiques and is fairly knowledgeable about specific areas.

I thought he was just a very old hunter. :confused: