Fake, Counterfeit Judaica. Beware!
There are tons of counterfeit silver Judaica items offered. Don’t be fooled! How do you know if it’s a fake?The items are usually claimed to be Russian and from the 1800s. Think about it: how many of these items would have survived the pogroms and the Holocaust? If they did, they would be museum pieces, not offered at auction for a few hundred dollars or less.Common counterfeit items include: circumcision clamps, yads (Torah pointers), besamim (spice) boxes, fancy marriage rings and figurines (“chess pieces”). Who would fake a circumcision clamp? I don’t know, but several are for auction as I write this review.The items typically look new and polished, although sometimes there is a fake patina. Consider this: these antique items were meant to be used on a regular basis. They should have signs of wear and dents. If they look new, guitar chord theory they are new!The same types of items are auctioned over and over again. How many times can the same seller auction a supposedly “rare” item?The stamped fake hallmarks are almost always the same or very similar. Usually there’s a date in the 1800s. After a while, you will immediately recognize the fake hallmarks without difficulty.To add further insult, many of the items incorporate sad-looking, so-called Jewish figures (“rabbis”). Why would a Jewish person buy a pathetic caricature for themselves?Don’t be fooled! Look at the seller’s feedback to learn what he or she has sold before. If they have sold several of these “rare” items before, ask yourself how the seller obtained so many of them. Another clue: many of these auctions hide the bidders’ names in “private” auctions. This is so watchdogs such as me cannot contact the buyers.
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