Fake Afrika Medal - Opinions

[kenneth wolfe]

Hi

HI Matt,

Here's another


Kenneth

[Leroy]

What concerns me about the originally posted piece is its patina, which is very hard to really get "right". This particular medal has the loss of detail which is common with cast fakes, but also common with heavily polished period pieces. When the patina is added, there is a real problem. Is it possible to get side shots or measurements? Just based on the photos (which can be deceptive) there does not appear to any size difference at all between the one believed to be fake and the accepted original next to it. Again, the positioning of the maker and designer markings, and the extrusion at two points of the crocodile's right appendage, is the same as a known "second" pattern tombak version of this medal. Only measurements and side details will tell.

[kenneth wolfe]

Hi

Hi Leroy,

I slightly agree with you but if I were a betting man it would not be on the patina. There are ways to age a medal that do not take 60 yrs. I'm not talking about the acid treatment either.


Kenneth

[Leroy]

Hi, Kenneth,
I agree with you completely.
I suppose my concern is that we know there is more than one standard tombak version of this medal. Could the pictured one be an original of that other type, with the details polished out? Not saying at all that is the case, but I simply can't rule it out based on what has been revealed so far.
Leroy

P.S. Before, I said I had no doubt it was cast. Now I am no longer so sure.

[kenneth wolfe]

1

Hi Leroy,

You do have a point. I would like to see a close up of the maker marks and if the ribbons are not sewn a pic with out the ribbon on it. That should help a little



Kenneth

[kenneth wolfe]

Hi

Does anyone have a list of manufactures? I have a theory that I working on and knowing who the makers were and where their factories were could shed some light on the subject.


Thanks
Kenneth