There are a large number of sellers who are located in mainland China who specialize in cheap, excellent copies of antique and vintage horse sculptures, as well as some beautiful copies of some pretty gnarly older Dynasty art pieces. Many of these sellers refer to their items as "Rare antiques" or "Rare collectibles", and some even state that they have a money-back guarantee if you take the item to an art dealer and discover that it is not antique.

This "Rare Tibet Silver" antique sells for $9.99 with SH of $120.00.   There are ten just like it (at various low prices and high shipping) from ten different Chinese sellers.  So much for "rare".

Of course, you have to note that these "rare antiques" are selling at ridiculously low prices (most average less than $10.00), and some sellers start the bidding at just a penny! But the shipping and handling prices are hiked up into the hundreds!  So, even if you take that item to your local antique dealer and he says "Naw...it's a good copy, though!", all you will get back is the small amount you actually paid for the item itself, (AFTER you ship it back to the seller for another $10 to $20), and not the huge SH fee you paid to get the thing sent to you.

This "Exceedingly Rare Antique Bronze Chinese War Horse" sells for about $4.00, with SH of over $100.00.  There were twelve of these available on the same day from different Chinese sellers.   The one below is touted as  "Rare Tibet Silver Antique Chinese War Horse".

Please note the "exceedingly Rare (Breyer's Big Ben)  War Horse" below from which these "Exceedingly Rare antique" Chinese horses were copied...circa 1970-90's.

So you will pay anywhere from $80 to $450 SH fees to get an item that you bought for under $10.00, thinking you were getting a great deal...and when you find out it is only worth the $5.00 to $25.00 you paid for it, you realize with a sinking stomach that you just shelled out a small fortune to that seller to have the item shipped to you.

For instance, one of the items I am referring to (shown above) sells for a mere $.99 (I am sure it is well worth that amount because it is lovely!). However, to quote the seller: "shipping: $125.00 (EMS)" Now THAT'S one heck of a shock if you didn't read the whole item description before bidding!   The sellers (there were twenty five of these on eBay from different sellers) show this as "rare Tibet Silver Statue".

Another seller shows you an antique "turquoise" ball carved with the 12 Chinese Zodiac animals...and sells it for about a buck.  SH is a mere $50!  The piece is just about the size of a golf ball, and could be shipped for around $8.00 via airmail.  Also, it is turquoise colored, but doubtfully made of real turquoise.

Again, the little beauty below is touted as a rare Han Dynasty antique.  It sells for anywhere from $.99 to $39.99...with SH ranging from $100 to $170.  I found thirty of these on eBay.  Amazing that one seller can sell this exact item for under a buck, and another sells it for 50 times that much.

And best of all, check out these four "rare antique" Bronze statues that are on sale by at least twenty sellers touting them as ancient antiques...for anywhere from $.99 to $9.99...with SH hitting close to $110-$159! 

There are many Chinese sellers who have been stomped on so often by eBay for excessive SH, they don't actually give you a figure anymore. They write "e-mail me for shipping cost." Most folks don't e-mail because they ASSUME the SH will be REASONABLE! PLEASE...if you value money, always ask how much the SH will be BEFORE bidding!

So the next time you think you are getting a fabulous deal on some genuine ancient Chinese artifact, think again. Most genuine ancient Asian artifacts are not available on eBay for under $10!. They are available through bona fide art dealers in Asia and China, and although I have seen some real Chinese antiques for sale on eBay, they never sell for $5.00 with SH in the hundreds.  So remember...Caveat Emptor.  Let the buyer beware. You usually get what you pay for, no matter how "lucky" or how "rare and ancient" somebody tells you the item is!

PLEASE NOTE: I have received negative ratings on these exposes because these sellers also read them. If you feel what I have written is valuable to you, please vote and tell eBay that this guide is valuable.

Thanks!