2 spange finally see the light of day!

[Powderhound]

Hi guys I've had these 2 untouched in my collection for years and have only got round to photos. I picked up the EKi, cased, about 8 years ago for £70, and the EKii about 10 years ago for £15 before the dealer had a chance to check the correct value of the piece. My guess is I got a steal with that one.

Advice please - neither spange is marked, and I'm not sure about the EKi case. Are they both good?

Cheers :-)

Duncs

[Wijtman01]

look very very good
love the detail man

[tinmantis]

Hi
I hate to be the one to say this but, I think they are both fakes. The box may stand a chance, but I'm not too good on cases...
But please wait for other members to give their opinions also
regards
jon

[Powderhound]

To be fair they haven't photo'd as well as i'd have liked. The pebbling around the dates and swas on both pieces is uniform and looks very genuine and these pics don't do that justice.

Duncs

[grueni1208]

Hi
... I think they are both fakes.

I agree!

Regards

Grueni

[Robert P.]

As a side note, the EKI spange is a very good copy of the 'Unknown maker', although on this piece the hardware is all wrong. The main point to remember in this piece is the overly thick construction compared to the original. Gordon Williamson shows this copy compared to the original in his book. One of these copies surfaced on a known dealer's site recently marked with the L/12 stamp. It too had the thick constuction and poor finish. They're made in England today and have deceived many collectors because of their correct obverse features. Here's a view of the copy's thick construction, like the example posted above...

Robert

[Robert P.]

Compare the thickness of the copy to the original here...

Robert

[franki]

Hello,

I am sorry, but as far as I can see are these two, as already mentioned, fakes.
I think a sharp look on the poorly exicuted surface show it clearly ones apart from the thickness of the clasps.

Bets Franki

[Robert P.]

Here are two original 'Unknown Makers' under the known fake....

The obverses are surprisingly similar. The obvious difference between the fake and originals in seen in the leg feathers just above the legs.

Robert

[Robert P.]

Again, here is a photo of the fake that was sold recently by a well-known dealer, marked L/12...a fake!

Robert

[Robert P.]

fake stamping, fake badge!...

Robert

[Jørgen E]

IMHO they are both very fake indeed! Sorry!

[Robert P.]

Duncs,

Could you please post some photos of the case, inside and out, if you have it with you?

Robert

[Robert P.]

And, here is the hardware most commonly seen on the original 'Unknown Makers'...

Robert

[Powderhound]

Hi Robert

Firstly thanks for your comments, superb feedback. You are certainly the man! Obviously I'm gutted both spange are fakes!

Here are some more pics although the light's against me right now. The case has what by all appearances is a silk liner (lid), and the clasp presses in slightly to open it and the clasp housing is a square shape. It's a dark-ish metal in colour either factory darkened or grained over time. The case hasn't been tampered with and I'd welcome comment. Cheers!

Duncs