Black Americana Boy on Alligator

Porcelain : Nippon

 

This example is a 'fantasy' piece. No authentic ceramic item like this was ever made at any time on which can be found a Nippon mark. On this particular item, which is very new, even the Nippon mark, itself, is a total fantasy. No authentic comparable Nippon mark ever existed.

This item is rather clumsily made, as well as marked, and would never fool an experienced buyer. But it can fool someone who has recently entered the antiques and collectibles market, with the intent of starting a collection.

Dimensions of this item are 3 1/4 inches tall by 5 inches long.

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Compare these Nippon porcelain tips to the item and see how many of them may apply to it:

1. Gold decoration on earlier fakes was usually very bright and actually had a 'new' look to it with none of the oxidation one would expect to see on an aged, authentic piece. Conversely, many of the newest fakes and reproductions are now wearing gold decoration that has being given an artificial 'patina' by way of the factory. But, they haven't got this color just right, either (yet). It is often very dark, almost bronze in appearance. This is one of those areas where some experience pays off, but even a buyer new to Nippon porcelains can train their eye to know the difference. What is imperative for doing this most surely is being able to handle and closely examine at least a few pieces known to be authentic.

2. Look past surface decoration (which is frequently very good and pleasing to the eye) and, instead, look at the body of the ware, at the porcelain it sits on. Although those manufacturers of the new are steadily improving body quality, their ware is still not as good as much of the old. Newer pieces may feel heavy in the hand, look thick walled, clunky or almost pottery-like. This can often be easily noted by holding a piece up to a light source. Hold it up to the sun, if you have to, and check. Nippon porcelain should, for the most part, be expected to be thinly potted, translucent porcelain. Much of it was very high quality, which is one of the reasons collectors began to be drawn to it in the first place.

The light source test isn't always a fool-proof test for all pieces, as some authentic pieces are thicker walled and some newer pieces may be slightly translucent, but if the Nippon marked piece you are considering buying is thick walled, not translucent, and has a rough or grainy foot-ring, perhaps with kiln debris still sticking to it, you should definitely consider it suspect. Those are not indicative of a well-made porcelain product.

3. Take the time to find out if that 'rare' piece you are looking at only seems rare because it is the first time you've ever seen an item in that form marked Nippon, or if it is 'rare' only because the seller says so. When a particular type of item was never actually produced by a company it will generally be known as a 'fantasy' item. For instance, a Nippon marked oil lamp would be a fantasy. See item #2007RP00012 also listed in the shop for additional information on Nippon fakes.

4. The decorative motif on fake, reproduction and fantasy Nippon is almost always going to be found repeated on other shapes and items. These motifs ably ape the decorative effects found on authentic pieces, without being the same. The best way to become familiar with the types of decorations to be encountered on new pieces is to invest some time looking at them in Nippon collector books, which can sometimes be found at local libraries, online at wholesale sources for imported reproductions, or on collector websites.

5. Is there any wear visible on the item at all? Yes, it is possible to find authentic Nippon with no visible sign of wear, but that is not the norm. The real reason a piece of porcelain intended for use after original purchase, like a tea set, dresser tray or vase, shows absolutely no sign of age or use is because, generally, it is too new. Of course, with many fakes now entering a quarter of a century old, this tip is only useful for helping to identify obviously new pieces and should not be used to suggest the opposite, i,e,, assuming that if an item appears to bear evidence of use, it must be old.

Item ID: 2007RP0007