Chinese double axe: real or fake?

Bill M · 24th February 2007, 03:54 PM

What Barry said. Probably not old. Could be anywhere from a few months to a few years. Beware of high shipping costs and realize that most of the pieces from China fall in the "replica" category.

He also gives excellent advice in that if you see two or more of the same piece, by different sellers, they are very likely fake.

I have a few of these as do most collectors.

If your goal is building an antique collection, buy from established dealers. If your goal is to have a few wall hangers -- and I don't mean this in a negative sense -- buy from the chinese sellers on eBay. I trust nothing in their descriptions but the dimensions.

Use common sense. Do you really think you are going to buy museum quality pieces at garage sale prices, on eBay? Ming dynasty swords? Chinese general swords? Even Qing dynasty?

There are a few established eBay Chinese sellers that I can recommend, but I know only two, maybe one that I trust. Certainly there are a few more that I don't know, but in general, COME ON!

Hmm, maybe we should post a few pictures? Start a thread on "Ethnographic Replicas?"

Tatyana Dianova · 24th February 2007, 06:37 PM

First of all, thank you for your thoughts! These axes are from a private seller in Germany, and she claims that they are 150+ years old. I am sure, they have no great historical value, but they look quite good to be wall hangers. It was just interesting for me, if such kind of axes may be real in principle. It looks to me that weapons from China are very difficult to judge, because of their huge variety.

24th February 2007, 03:54 PM	#1
Bill M Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: USA Georgia Posts: 1,599	What Barry said. Probably not old. Could be anywhere from a few months to a few years. Beware of high shipping costs and realize that most of the pieces from China fall in the "replica" category. He also gives excellent advice in that if you see two or more of the same piece, by different sellers, they are very likely fake. I have a few of these as do most collectors. If your goal is building an antique collection, buy from established dealers. If your goal is to have a few wall hangers -- and I don't mean this in a negative sense -- buy from the chinese sellers on eBay. I trust nothing in their descriptions but the dimensions. Use common sense. Do you really think you are going to buy museum quality pieces at garage sale prices, on eBay? Ming dynasty swords? Chinese general swords? Even Qing dynasty? There are a few established eBay Chinese sellers that I can recommend, but I know only two, maybe one that I trust. Certainly there are a few more that I don't know, but in general, COME ON! Hmm, maybe we should post a few pictures? Start a thread on "Ethnographic Replicas?"

24th February 2007, 06:37 PM	#2
Tatyana Dianova Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 737	First of all, thank you for your thoughts! These axes are from a private seller in Germany, and she claims that they are 150+ years old. I am sure, they have no great historical value, but they look quite good to be wall hangers. It was just interesting for me, if such kind of axes may be real in principle. It looks to me that weapons from China are very difficult to judge, because of their huge variety.