MY RULE OF THUMB ON THESE IS IF IT WAS BOUGHT RECENTLY FROM A DEALER IN CHINA ITS A REPO AS ANYTHING OVER 100 YEARS OLD IS FORBIDDEN EXPORT. THE ODDS ARE LONG ON GETTING A REAL ANTIQUE CHINESE BRONZE BUT I SUPPOSE IT COULD HAPPEN, BUT IF THE SELLER KNEW IT WAS THE REAL THING IT WOULD BE EXPENSIVE. I DON'T MIND BUYING A GOOD BRONZE REPLICA FOR A FAIR PRICE BUT UNFORTUNATELY MANY ARE PUT UP FOR SALE AS THE REAL THING WITH TOO BIG OF A PRICE ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ADD IN THE RIDICULOUS S&H CHARGES FROM CHINA. SEARCH THE OLD FORUMS FOR BRONZE AND YOU WILL FIND SOME OLD POSTS. ANY BRONZE ITEM WITH A OPENING BID OF .99 CENTS AND A S&H FROM CHINA OF $80.00 TO 150.00 ON EBAY IS A RIP OFF FOR SURE.
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