Deruta Fakes and Online Marketplaces

Whilst Italian authorities begin to stem the serious Deruta ceramics fakes problem, the online sales markets such as Ebay and Vigix seem to offer new opportunities for fakers to offload their ware.

The CNA (The Italian Small and Medium Enterprises Craftmanship Association) together with the Italian police investigating fraud has recently announced (see www.derutanews.it ) that it will move to ensure the involvement of Italian politicians and policy makers in the fight against fakes in the Deruta ceramics industry. Questions begin to be posed, however, about the Deruta-marked objects that are sold on-line through open marketplaces such as Ebay, Vigix and similars. The growing popularity of these online markets make them the preferred target for fakers. The marketplaces can not guarantee the origin of an object sold through their system as any large scale control would be rather difficult. Buyers need consequently rely on their own judgement when they bid for a Deruta artefact, old or recent. DerutaNews, the Deruta Newsletter outlines a good set of ground rules that should be applied but this sort of advice may not be enough. Buyers should remember that a piece of authentic Deruta ceramics will not cost just peanuts. Each original Deruta ware will be hand made, each will be marked Deruta, and each will display the characteristics, the colours, the patterns and even the imperfections that certify its hand-made origin. Hand-made products are very different from machine made/serial products. Treasure the small imperfections on the surface as each tells its story. If you are in doubt consult the Deruta Newsletter. There is oodles advice in there and, if you are still in doubt, ask for a local expert. You will be saved lots of pains later if you discover that what you saw on a computer screen and bought as Deruta original is not what you thought it should be.