Fake, Fraud, or Genuine?: Identifying Authentic American Antique Furniture [Paperback]

Myrna Kaye (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 1991

This guide aims to help the reader discern the genuine, the repaired antique, the honest reproduction and the complete fraud. Examining furniture from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, it should be useful to both the amateur and serious collector.

Product Details

• Paperback: 214 pages
• Publisher: Bulfinch Press; 1st edition (April 1, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0821218255
• ISBN-13: 978-0821218259
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #580,780 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Worthwhile Basics, February 26, 2000

By 

Martha Mckie (Jacksonville, FL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fake, Fraud, or Genuine?: Identifying Authentic American Antique Furniture (Paperback)

I worked hard to really read this book. It has been worth it, because it covers the basic story on how to examine a piece of furniture to determine whether or not it is really old, or even if it is old, whether or not the piece itself is original as seen today, or has been pieced together from several incomplete pieces of old furniture, or even other sources of old pieces of wood. It is fairly fascinating, but it is also a lot like studying. I seem to be coming into contact with antiques through inheritance, and while this book hasn't told me much about the source of the pieces I have, I at least now know enough to turn my furniture upside down, and inside out to find out just where it may have been before it came to me! You have to really look at the many photographs (not every one was perfectly clear no matter how hard I looked -- 1 out of 30 were unclear I estimate) while reading the narrative. And I had never realized the extent to which 18th and 19th century pieces are researched for provenence, including looking through very old advertisements in newspapers, etc., to find the names of furniture makers of the past. Quite technical, but worth the effort.

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Protect Yourself; No wonder only 3% buys Antiques!, September 5, 1997

By 

[e-mail] (Charleston, SC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fake, Fraud, or Genuine?: Identifying Authentic American Antique Furniture (Paperback)

No wonder only 3% of the population buys antiques. The rest of us are scared of what we don't know. With all it's pictures and arrows this book is easy to read and understand. Within a couple hours you will be a trained expert in detecting what is real and what is not.

I own and operate an Antiques Mall and Auction Gallery. We tell our customers on a daily basis, before they invest in "Antiques" they should invest in a book called "Fake, Fraud, Or Genuine" by Myrna Kaye. It will be the cheapest money they have ever spent. And if they will buy the book on-line from Amazon.com it will be even cheaper!

I will make this deal with any of my customers: "You buy the book, If you are not satisfied I will buy the book back" (And I don't sell books in my shop)

If your thinking of becoming a member of the top 3% of the population. I recommend this book for you. Roumillat's Antiques, Charleston, S

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Learn how not to be a victim of some of the favorite tricks., October 15, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Fake, Fraud, or Genuine?: Identifying Authentic American Antique Furniture (Paperback)

This book was long overdue when it was published and is just as essential an addition to the furniture connoisseurs library toady. Read about some of the great capers of the century and how you can detect what went undetected for decades. What you learn here can be applied to furniture from other countries as well. An interesting line about Israel Sack's start in the business (albeit innocent I must say to be fair) should be incentive enough to buy this helpful book.