Real or fake?
We found several pieces of reproduction Madrid at antique malls this week. Some came with the original box, marked Recollection, others you had to know what you were seeing. One piece I thought you might like to see in a close up was this cup.
Recollection, Not Madrid Amber Cup at Antique Mall
The amber pieces are close. The color matches and the design is quite similar, natural since Indiana used the original molds from Federal Glass to make Recollection. Usually I can tell them apart by feel, there is something just not quite right with the reproduction pieces. With this cup I may have found a good indicator with the rim.
Reproduction Madrid Amber Cup
The real cups, sherbets, creamers and sugar bowls have pointed tips that come up from the ribs and end just below the rims. (These tend to get nicked, which is one reason I notice them!) Take a good look at the circled area in the close up and note the rim is smooth and the rib joins without any difference. I don’t know whether this is a definite tell-tale but it may be a good clue for you. I checked several of the other reproduction pieces and noticed the same thing on all of them.
Look closely at this poor photo where the point just below the sherbet rim is circled. You can feel a step down from the rim to the point; it is separate – and pointy!
Madrid Amber Depression Glass Sherbet
We’ve talked about reproduction Madrid several times and included links to others’ observations about clues to tell old from new, most recently in this post. Reproductions are an important topic if you enjoy vintage glass. For the most part they are not a problem because few patterns were reproduced, and most of those had only a piece or two. Usually the fakes have clues that give them away. There are a few cases though where it can be quite difficult to spot real or fake and I want to share what I can with you.