***ALERT***Fake Teco pottery in antique mall
Mark Humpal
handled Teco vase in a case for $425. First off, it had an unusual
glaze, kind of a cafe aulait over gold... Upon inspection, the piece
appeared to be hand-thrown (swirl marks on bottom) rather than molded and
the hallmark was *wrong*. Instead of the usual "Teco" mark, this one
looked like the mark they used in their advertising - the "Teco" was
enclosed in a box; it was also hallmarked twice. I'm dead certain this
pot is bogus, since I also deal in arts and crafts pottery...
Question is - do I alert the mall and the dealer or is it "buyer beware"?
Sadly, it was just a matter of time before the high-end art pottery was
unscrupulously re-popped...
Mark
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Harvey Schlesinger
pottery which used the Teco name and was not related to the Illinois
based maker of wonderful art pottery.
As an experienced buyer you recognized that the style, glaze and mark
bore no resemblence to what we think of as Teco.
Only the most gullible would spend $400+ on an item like this. Whether
the dealer or mall would want to know about this is probably a matter of
their character and the price they paid. If you would feel better
telling them about it and can do it without coming across as a
"know-it-all" by all means do so.
Lets not start another forgery panic, when there really isn't one. I'm
sure you know dealers who can tell you about the depression glass panic
and price drops due to repros, and more recently the Watt pottery panic.
Your knowledge saved you and we must rely on savvy buyers
Mike McCracken
IMHO, I would raise heck about this. There have been several alerts recently,
including a note in Style 1900 about a dealer who was brought several Grueby
and Teco pieces and found they were fakes. In fact, there is a group advertising
that they are reproducing Teco and Grueby. I don't know if the pot you saw
is from the same group or not.
As you noted, your experience allowed you to detect that it was a fake, but
many unsuspecting newbies could easily be taken. This is not a case of someone
copying a design, appropriately marking it, and then selling it for $50 as a
repro.
The result will be that these things will pop up everywhere and in my mind
the overall market will be hurt. As prices of the authentic items keep going
up and up, the motivation to be unscrupulous goes up and up. Either the
dealer who had the pot was taken, or he/she is trying to be the taker.
In a perfect world, the thing should have been clearly marked as a repro,
should have been priced as such, and no one should have any doubt (beginner or
expert) as to its provenance.
Mike
Mark Humpal
> What you have seen is not fake Teco pottery. It is a later type of
> pottery which used the Teco name and was not related to the Illinois
> based maker of wonderful art pottery.
Just what is this latter day Teco?
>
> As an experienced buyer you recognized that the style, glaze and mark
> bore no resemblence to what we think of as Teco.
Actually, the *style* (form) sucked me in at first. The shape matches I
think #283 in the Teco catalog. As far as glaze, I have seen Teco in
browns, creams, etc., but never a glaze quite like this. I do not
consider myself an expert on Teco, since I don't see a lot of it out
here...that's what made me wonder about the piece.
> Only the most gullible would spend $400+ on an item like this. Whether
> the dealer or mall would want to know about this is probably a matter of
> their character and the price they paid. If you would feel better
> telling them about it and can do it without coming across as a
> "know-it-all" by all means do so.
>
> Lets not start another forgery panic, when there really isn't one. I'm
> sure you know dealers who can tell you about the depression glass panic
> and price drops due to repros, and more recently the Watt pottery panic.
> Your knowledge saved you and we must rely on savvy buyers
Actually, it was pointed out to me by Alan that this forgery scare has
already been put in print via the latest issue of Style:1900. JMW
gallery in Boston has already seen 3 such pots and some fake Grueby as well.
ALANT24FPS
>>Actually, it was pointed out to me by Alan that this forgery scare has
already been put in print via the latest issue of Style:1900. JMW
gallery in Boston has already seen 3 such pots and some fake Grueby as
well.<<
Worse yet is to come. I didn't get to the Arts and Crafts conference in
Asheville this year, but someone brought me a copy of the catalog. There
is a full page ad from a group advertising reproduction TECO (TM) and
GRUEBY (TM) pottery, supposedly coming this spring. One of the principals
is Anita Munman, whose A&C inspired pictures are becoming a cliche of the
decorating style. I would assume that these people are being careful to
mark their pottery very clearly so it would be difficult (at least) to
confuse with the 'real thing.' Though, as Teco was produced from molds and
sprayed with glaze in the first place, one could ask what's the difference
between the original and the reproduction.
It's disheartening to see so much reproduction stuff come up. The GPI
catalog seems to have as many ads for repros as for antiques! And Beth
Cathers and Nick Dembrosky, fresh off a long interview in 'Style: 1900' in
which they voice disdain for 'second and third tier generic mission' have
a full page ad for 'The Arts and Craftsman,' their new venture which is
apparently going to feature reproductions. Although the ad shows a photo
of a Gustav Stickley twelve-tile chafing table which looks original--down
to a seam separation!
I don't know anything about the 'later' Teco which Mr Schlesinger
mentioned. Teco got out of pottery and into making ceramic components for
(I think) electrical fixtures and other uses about 1920. The company is
still in business, under a different name, and has a small museum of the
pottery. I am sure they still own the name Teco and I don't know why they
would license anyone else to use it.
Best wishes,
Alan
Harvey Schlesinger
that the owners of the teco trademark- if they ever did think to
protect it - let it lapse.
The mark which the original poster saw is almost art moderne in
appearance and was used in the 1950's and 60's on imported
pottery.
It is unlikely to fool any sophisticated dealer, or anyone who
has seen Teco.
As for comments on molded pottery, Vsn Briggle comes to mind
immediately, with many people foolishly paying outrageous prices
for current production pieces. Again no fraud is intended here,
people just haven't taken the time to learn the marks, molds and
glazes used on early pieces.
Charleen Bunjiovianna
>
>The mark which the original poster saw is almost art moderne in
>appearance and was used in the 1950's and 60's on imported
>pottery.
With all due respect, Harvey, I don't think I'd comment on what
the original poster saw until I saw what the original poster saw.
(I tawt I taw a puddy tat?)
>It is unlikely to fool any sophisticated dealer, or anyone who
>has seen Teco.
I don't believe that's the point.
Putting even an obvious fake in an antique store without the object
clearly being labelled "repro" is bad enough, but assigning a
ridiculously high price tag is worse. The price is supposed to lend
some sort of credibility. Others have speculated that the dealer
either didn't know what it was, or knew what it was (having paid
too much for it) and wanted to pass the bite on to someone else.
Either way, that piece has no business in an antique store.
This practice of selling unmarked repros is damaging to all antique
dealers. It erodes our credibility.
>As for comments on molded pottery, Vsn Briggle comes to mind
>immediately, with many people foolishly paying outrageous prices
>for current production pieces. Again no fraud is intended here,
>people just haven't taken the time to learn the marks, molds and
>glazes used on early pieces.
I am told that there is a secondary market for "Colorado Springs"
Van Briggle. I have not seen any evidence of it, though, other
than one poster's claims that some "limited edition" late VB
was desirable.
I bought some Colorado Springs Van Briggle from a prominent rec.antiques
dealer early in my dealer career, thinking that since the prices assigned
to the pieces were substantial, the value must also be. You're right;
there's no substitute for learning. Trust no one.
Charleen
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antiques and collectibles for sale... URL: http://www.diadem.com
Harvey Schlesinger
of course it should not be in an antiques mall unless that mall does
business in the same period and quality pottery as this was.
My concern is not with trying to defend the selling dealer. My concern is
that we not create a teco panic. If there is really some "fake" teco out
there every dealer and collector of art pottery needs to know.
Don't confuse mark and maker ignorance with forgery.
By the way, I have no Teco in inventory, and would love to have Teco.
In New England, the late Van Briggle pieces are bringing prices in the
several hundred dollar range. I consigned an early mistake to auction a
very small common blue vase and saw it bring $225.
Mark Humpal
>The original poster made it clear that this piece did not look like teco.
>of course it should not be in an antiques mall unless that mall does
>business in the same period and quality pottery as this was.
>My concern is not with trying to defend the selling dealer. My concern is
>that we not create a teco panic. If there is really some "fake" teco out
>there every dealer and collector of art pottery needs to know.
>Don't confuse mark and maker ignorance with forgery.
>By the way, I have no Teco in inventory, and would love to have Teco.
Well, actually, the piece does look like Teco. The form seems right at a
glance - it is a catalogued piece, #283, I think. It was the glaze that
first aroused suspicion. Most of the Teco I have seen has a sprayed-on
glaze; organic looking, but more uniform than this piece.
I do not intend to create a scare or panic about this, but to downplay
the situation would be an even greater disservice to the pottery buying
public as well as dealers who are not as discerning. My overall
impression of the piece was that it was made to deceive. Certainly, with
the prices that many of the Teco pieces are fetching these days, the
motivation to forge is certainly present...
Mark
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