Dagger on E-bay: what did I miss?

ALEX · 17th June 2011, 08:31 AM

Ariel, you’re safe:-) But it’s incredible how many others are struggling with this. This is new China-made souvenir, bought for around $100 and listed under mystical-sounding title. There were several very similar sold on eBay recently, and several are currently listed. This “jade” handle can be picked up in China for under $5, and also on e-Bay for even less as part of magnifying glass or mirror. The stones are “cooked” glass, Russian-style enamel and filigree wire work is typical ordinary new production. Not to mention a crude bolster/blade joint, there is no tang. What’s nice about it? This type of “souvenir” can be in a dollar store as a letter opener, or sold by dozens in a flea market - but once on e-Bay packaged in a convincing description, a few stones, enamel and other glitter, people get blindsided … just like with “Antique Mughal” daggers coming out of India all of the sudden. With this trend gaining momentum, soon we’ll be refusing ethnographic originals and jumping on “rare and magnificent” fakes – a disturbing drift IMHO.

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17th June 2011, 08:31 AM	#6
ALEX Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 936	Ariel, you’re safe:-) But it’s incredible how many others are struggling with this. This is new China-made souvenir, bought for around $100 and listed under mystical-sounding title. There were several very similar sold on eBay recently, and several are currently listed. This “jade” handle can be picked up in China for under $5, and also on e-Bay for even less as part of magnifying glass or mirror. The stones are “cooked” glass, Russian-style enamel and filigree wire work is typical ordinary new production. Not to mention a crude bolster/blade joint, there is no tang. What’s nice about it? This type of “souvenir” can be in a dollar store as a letter opener, or sold by dozens in a flea market - but once on e-Bay packaged in a convincing description, a few stones, enamel and other glitter, people get blindsided … just like with “Antique Mughal” daggers coming out of India all of the sudden. With this trend gaining momentum, soon we’ll be refusing ethnographic originals and jumping on “rare and magnificent” fakes – a disturbing drift IMHO.