Upon browsing the Ebay website as well as many of our local antique/vintage stores here in Utah this weekend, I was quite surprised at the mass of the vintage items that are being reproduced. Mercury glass vases & jars, Jeweled French crowns, French chandeliers...the list goes on and on. Any aged collector of fine antiques and vintage can spot the repros right away, but it's scary to see what's being mass produced, and even worse is being sold something that is new passed off as Antique.

I decided to write this Guide as a useful tool to help you when making a purchase of this type. While buying reproductions from time to time, and decorating with them is fine...There is nothing more frustrating than an item being misrepresented. There is nothing worse feeling than finding the treasure you have been hunting for months, only to get it home and find out it is just a mass produced reproduction. I hope this guide & photos posted are helpful to you in making educated, fun, and authentic antique purchases for your home & collection!

ALWAYS REMEMBER: 

"WHEN BUYING AN ANTIQUE YOU ARE MAKING AN INVESTMENT, THERE IS NOTHING LIKE THE LOOK AND FEEL OF VINTAGE"

My first photos are of C. 1800-1900s AUTHENTIC FRENCH CROWNS-These crowns are so gorgeous and so much fun to collect. They have such a wonderful patina to them as well as the craftsmenship is unsurpassed. Each stone was hand set and the filligree work is so fine and delicate. I have included many photos below for you to view, if you would like more photos do let me know...I am only aloud to post 10 here on this guide, however I have quite the extensive crown collection. Please email me if you have any questions when preparing to purchase an Antique Crown.

The group of photographs below are REPRODUCTION CROWNS- I have included photos for you of three reproduction crowns that are being passed off as old and authentic and are being sold in the antique trade. While these may be a fun and less expensive addition to your crown collection, they are not authentic and you should not expect to pay more than 50-75.00 for a piece like this. The stones are normally glued in, and the craftmenship is never as fine as the authentic pieces. The patina is fake and normally painted on. Why buy something that has been "distressed" to look old when you can get something that has genuine patina, history, and is truly a wise investment.

I hope this helps you on your hunt for wonderful and authentic crowns to add to your collection or start one with! We at ABitOfParis2U are proud to only sale authentic antiques! Do be sure to stop by our site and take a browse of our ever changing extensive line of Antiques and Vintage Home Decor!