DJR Expert Guide Series, Vol. 272 — Real vs. Fake: Counterfeits in Early American Glassware

$29.00

Early American glassware—including flint glass, mold-blown bottles, tableware, Mid-Atlantic and Pittsburgh production, and 19th-century Sandwich glass—is one of the most heavily counterfeited categories in Americana. Because genuine hand-blown glass exhibits distinctive irregularities in color, pontil marks, mold seams, weight, and bubble distribution, modern forgers attempt to mimic these traits using reproductions, acid-etched pontils, modern molds, and artificial distressing. Accurate authentication requires a systematic, multi-factor evaluation of chemistry, structure, tooling, and wear.

DJR Expert Guide Series, Vol. 272 — Real vs. Fake: Counterfeits in Early American Glassware provides a full professional workflow for identifying original 18th–19th century American glass and distinguishing it from later reproductions, altered pieces, and artificially aged fakes. This guide covers pontil analysis, glass chemistry, mold-seam behavior, flow patterns, pattern authenticity, lip construction, wear diagnostics, and the red flags seen in modern reproductions.

Inside, you’ll learn how experts:

  • Differentiate hand-blown 18th–19th century glass from 20th-century reproductions

  • Identify open, sand, and iron pontils vs fake or acid-etched pontil scars

  • Evaluate authentic bubble distribution, flow lines, seeds & natural impurities

  • Detect modern molds, sharp seams, perfect symmetry & incorrect relief sharpness

  • Analyze period-correct colors: iron-aqua, manganese-purple, early cobalt & amber

  • Identify grinding, machine finishing, and tool marks used to mimic antique wear

  • Distinguish applied and tooled lips from modern machine-ground rims

  • Evaluate base irregularities, kick-ups, off-center pontils & natural wall variation

  • Detect uniform scratch patterns, fake frosting & artificial distressing

  • Authenticate early Sandwich, Pittsburgh, and Midwestern factory patterns

  • Evaluate early cut/engraved work versus modern machine-cut replicas

  • Know when historical flasks or high-risk pieces require professional authentication

Volume 272 provides collectors with a complete, museum-grade real-vs-fake system—ensuring confident authentication and protection against increasingly sophisticated early-American glass reproductions.

Digital Download — PDF • 8 Pages • Instant Access

Early American glassware—including flint glass, mold-blown bottles, tableware, Mid-Atlantic and Pittsburgh production, and 19th-century Sandwich glass—is one of the most heavily counterfeited categories in Americana. Because genuine hand-blown glass exhibits distinctive irregularities in color, pontil marks, mold seams, weight, and bubble distribution, modern forgers attempt to mimic these traits using reproductions, acid-etched pontils, modern molds, and artificial distressing. Accurate authentication requires a systematic, multi-factor evaluation of chemistry, structure, tooling, and wear.

DJR Expert Guide Series, Vol. 272 — Real vs. Fake: Counterfeits in Early American Glassware provides a full professional workflow for identifying original 18th–19th century American glass and distinguishing it from later reproductions, altered pieces, and artificially aged fakes. This guide covers pontil analysis, glass chemistry, mold-seam behavior, flow patterns, pattern authenticity, lip construction, wear diagnostics, and the red flags seen in modern reproductions.

Inside, you’ll learn how experts:

  • Differentiate hand-blown 18th–19th century glass from 20th-century reproductions

  • Identify open, sand, and iron pontils vs fake or acid-etched pontil scars

  • Evaluate authentic bubble distribution, flow lines, seeds & natural impurities

  • Detect modern molds, sharp seams, perfect symmetry & incorrect relief sharpness

  • Analyze period-correct colors: iron-aqua, manganese-purple, early cobalt & amber

  • Identify grinding, machine finishing, and tool marks used to mimic antique wear

  • Distinguish applied and tooled lips from modern machine-ground rims

  • Evaluate base irregularities, kick-ups, off-center pontils & natural wall variation

  • Detect uniform scratch patterns, fake frosting & artificial distressing

  • Authenticate early Sandwich, Pittsburgh, and Midwestern factory patterns

  • Evaluate early cut/engraved work versus modern machine-cut replicas

  • Know when historical flasks or high-risk pieces require professional authentication

Volume 272 provides collectors with a complete, museum-grade real-vs-fake system—ensuring confident authentication and protection against increasingly sophisticated early-American glass reproductions.

Digital Download — PDF • 8 Pages • Instant Access