Re: Potential Fantoni fakes from the Far East (renamed thread)

[MirnaMinkoff]

So I'm a little confused to say the least. It would be great if examples of confirmed fakes or misattributions could be posted.

As for these litte trays, many by San Marino artists, did Fantoni produce any similar works? I have seen similar trays actually signed Fantoni on the front in the bottom right done in glaze - as well as on the typical sig on the back. Would this have been a fake too? The double signature, on both front and back, seems like it would either legit or a fake trying too hard.

I'm not sure how many fakes have entered the American market in comparison to the UK/ Europe.

[agrendan]

So from what I have read here this vase is to be considered as a fake?
Signed on front and in the bottom with symbol and Fantoni signature italy.

https://i.servimg.com/u/f74/18/23/90/99/vase11.jpg

[MirnaMinkoff]

Fantoni used variations on his signature, the symbol doesn't have to be present. Here's one on the back of a cat shelf-sitter he did for Raymor. (To be clear the signature below is an authentic piece)



Here are the shelf-sitters.
http://modernarmada.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/two-fantoni-cats.jpg

However, I'm very leery of any of the little "plates" and dishes that seem to be everywhere. (I do wonder why the leather covered backs were so popular.)

Fantoni did do work with big eyed girls, but he was imitated heavily and the San Martino pieces make up the bulk of the examples you see.

Here is a Fantoni piece using the girl motif
http://www.artvalue.com/auctionresult--fantoni-marcello-1915-italy-vase-2830556.htm

[agrendan]

This one lookes like this



Looks like the same signature from an older reply showing 4 different items in this style. So I guess this one´s a fake?

[MirnaMinkoff]

My personal opinion is the above is a fake signature. There are tell tale signs, but it's not the sames person's handwriting, it's someone trying to imitate a signature and they did it very slowly, with stopping at times which people writing their signature almost never do. (Hurky jerky writing stops are a big red flag)

Again, just my two cents.

[MirnaMinkoff]

Well I thank you so much for your information. I didn´t even know there was so much fakes around, but I´m new with Fantoni. Mostly in to my home market in Sweden ;)

Actually I'm in the U.S. so don't see so many fakes (except on ebay),but I'm not in a major metro area either. It seems to be an issue in the UK/Europe. I learned about the issue mostly via UK posters and others talking about it and showing examples, so it did make me a little paranoid and caused me to do a bit more research. I'm not an expert on Fantoni, but I do collect certain pieces he did (I can't resist the shelf sitters and some of the vases he did for Raymor.) and I've had the chance to see some of the higher end works (like cubist sculptures) at a very reputable auction house specializing in mid-century design and art. I'm better than average with signature identification due boring stuff I won't ramble on about - but that's the extent of my background. Just didn't want to act like I'm a major expert, just trying to be helpful with what I know. (But as they say a little knowledge can be very dangerous.) : )

Good luck looking for pieces in Sweden, I envy your location. I'm an even bigger fan of Scandinavian design and would LOVE to comb through the flea markets and antique stores there. Great part of the world, with wonderful design aesthetic and talent.

[Jeffingtons]

Found this thread whilst doing something else.

In support of Big Ed's original dish, I present this Fantoni signed leather clad bottle vase, with a lady of very similar genetics.

I bought this last summer in a provincial antique shop for a few pounds, not even noticing the signature and thinking it was just another piece of San Marino ware. (The owner didn't even know what San Marino ware was and was asking me about it). I only noticed the signature later.

Now I can't guarantee that it isn't a fake made in the far east as it's provenance goes no further than August 2013, to an antique dealer who didn't know what it was, but I know for certain that fake or no, it's still far better quality than the rest of my San Marino collection, in design, in painting, in glazing, in shape and even down to the quality and finish of the leather (thicker, stitched together rather than glued as my other leather covered bottle vase). Even my disinterested wife recognised the gulf in quality immediately and she doesn't care for most of the stuff I bring home. It's also got some minor age related damage to the leather.

I ask myself would fakers go to such lengths for such a small item. Well, you can probably guess what I think.

[fatlava.eu]

Hi guys!

I guess there's another fake on ebay at the moment, ebay nr. 362733538900

Regards
Micha

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