This is just an occasional series of posts to point out anything that even I can spot as an obvious fake.  In pointing these out I stress that these are not about attribution errors - or even overblown descriptions - but real fakes - where an item has been altered to make it look like something else.

I am sure that the sellers of these items are not responsible for these fakes, and they may have been duped themselves at dodgy auctioneers - but all serious collectors and dealers loathe these things - and the people who make them!

Number 4 - Yet more Troika fakery

Even the seller has the good grace to admit they are not too sure about the latest piece of dodgy penmanship to masquerade as a Troika lampbase, but that doesn't stop it being offered at a £40 start price ending on 13th August.(whats with the £40 start price - if its junk its junk - if its real its worth a lot more - so start at a £1, save the ebay fees, and let the market bid it up)

Note the high gloss glaze, felt tip pen mark and almost a spelling problem - Really need to do better than that fakers!

Number 3 - Another Troika fake - Carn Pottery in Disguise

Here is another troika fake, but this time it is a recognisable piece of fairly innocuous Carn pottery that got the embellishment.  Its for sale ending 13th July - at a £40 start - which seems quite a lot for piece of messed about Carn.

The description states it is in mint condition with only a fine bit of grazing to the signed initials  - which would be where the Carn pottery mark was sandpapered off!  And really - whats with the marking - a black felt tip with a red base -  this is poor quality faking

Number 2 - A Rubbish Troika fake

Astonishingly this item sold for over £80 and had 7 bidders - obviously all people who need to pay more attention to "Cash in the Attic" or "Bargain Hunt" or wherever they get their knowledge.  A real Troika teapot this size would not look like this but would cost over £500 - so what a terrific "steal" this one was.

Its amazing what you can do with a felt tip pen nowadays

Number 1 - Bernard Leach - NOT

Another bit of dodgy felt tip pen work - fortunately so bad that it failed to attract a bidder at £20.  Possibly an interesting wee jug - but blurry photos and a description of a mysterious mark that "looks like an S with a line through it" - almost enough to convince nobody that this was a St Ives piece by the great man.

If you find something listed that looks hugely dodgy - feel free to drop me a line and I may add it on to this review for the benefit of others.  Bear in mind that calling it a fake may need some expert attribution and knowledge, so be prepared to back up your case