Fakes. Forgeries. Fraud.
The world of collectibles has become fraught, as evidenced by constant headlines about the dangers buyers need to be on guard against everywhere, from flea markets to pricey auctions.
But with awareness of the perils, what are the best practices a collector can employ as protection against bringing home an item that isn’t what it might seem to be or has been represented as (perhaps because of even honest confusion)?
Chesapeake Collectibles lead appraiser Amory LeCuyer has some practical advice.
“Start with the knowledge base,” says LeCuyer, owner of the Hampton House auction and appraisal firm in Virginia. LeCuyer pointed out that consumers can do extensive advanced education on antiques and vintage collectibles by studying the breadth of information that’s easily accessible online. Interested in a concert poster? See first, for example, what there is to learn about printing variations in colors and quantities.
LeCuyer emphasizes that appraisal is not the same craft as authentication and that estimated values can hinge on further research and examination for items. But that, too, translates to guidance: “It’s easier and wiser to say CAUTION than to say ABSOLUTELY,” he notes.
That dovetails with another caveat for collectors, says LeCuyer. “Know as much as you can about provenance.” Ask as many questions about the source of items as seems relevant, and certainly try to moderate that infamously seductive collector’s reflex: the impulse purchase.
As Chesapeake Collectibles fans celebrate the premiere of the show’s 11th season, they can revisit the revelations of past years by streaming episodes found on the program’s website at mpt.org/programs/chesapeakecollectibles/chesapeakecollectibles-past-seasons/.
