I've been trading on Ebay for many years now, specialising in vintage lighting from Europe.   In the last six months I've noticed alot of cheap reproduction lighting purporting to be vintage or even antique!

So I thought that I should pass on a few tips to detect those naugty fraudsters.

• Check the photos carefully.  Poor quality castings are a definite sign of cheap imports from Eygypt/China.  New "bow" chain links on drops also are a dead giveaway.

• Check the completed listings of the seller. Have they sold that "stunning, unique antique chandelier" two or three times before. Of course it could be relisted because a sale fell through but have they sold other antique chandeliers more than once.  Check feedback too and see if the same title comes up several times.

• Does the sellers stock look similar in fabrication ie metal tone, quality & drops?

• Even after you have bought your stunning chandelier you can keep an eye on the sellers stock to see if your chandelier is for sale again.

• Do they describe their drops as "cut glass", "lead crystal", "hand cut" or all three!  Now they could be right but hand cut lead crystal chandeleirs are very rare and would be incredibly expensive.

• Do they show the chandeliers in good light with plenty of close up shots?  If not, are they hiding something?

• Do they offer "Buy Now ~ Make an offer" but accept ridiculously low offers!  I've seen it upto 50% reduced.  Again check the completely listings.

I obviously don't want to put you off buying your chandelier of Ebay.  Most sellers, myself included, are honest and trustworthy. 

I should point out that I am not an expert in antique lighting. If you have fallen in love with, what you suspect to be one of these "antique" chandeliers then that's fine, go ahead and but it, but wouldn't it be nice if the sellers came clean and used the word "reproduction".