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PROBABLY NOT! By Marvin Redler

When I decided to write an article for the Journal, many thoughts raced through my mind on how to compose an article on such a vast subject as McCoy pottery. After all, so much has already been written on the subject. I could have highlighted, or illustrated, some of the early, hard to find, or limited edition pieces of McCoy Pottery. I could have chosen to discuss period pieces, or other type pieces manufactured by McCoy from its inception. However, through the years, we die hard collectors; have all heard stories from our parents, grandparents, and others, about one or more of the above. We have learned to recognize the different styles, and the various pieces that McCoy manufactured, whether they are marked, or unmarked.

Therefore, instead of those subjects, I have chosen to address a topic that has been plaguing the collecting world over the past number of years, and that is “FAKE” Pottery. Yes, there have been many articles written on this subject too, but do not turn the page just yet, my fellow collectors, as you will soon discover that this story is not like any other which you have read in the past.

Collectibles, such as McCoy pottery, have become a big business worldwide. The estimate is that sales by antique malls and shops, flea markets, and shows, total in the billions of dollars each year. Nearly anyone can hang a sign on their door stating that they specialize in the sale of McCoy Pottery (or whatever else). These “dealers” are not regulated, nor are they licensed by any governmental agency. There is often little recourse for the buyer, if what he thought was a real McCoy piece is in fact a “fake”.

It has been said that if every piece of McCoy Pottery that has been bought and sold in North America over the last ten years was an authentic McCoy piece, than the McCoy’s must have had a factory in every State.

Since the collectible business is so easy to get into, it leaves itself wide open to invite unscrupulous individuals, and companies with no morals. These defrauders, who hope never to be caught, simply “knock off”, i.e., reproduce, McCoy pieces, or just invent pieces that have never been produced by McCoy and mark them as McCoy.

Sometimes a dealer does not know what he is selling – he simply does not have the expertise required to evaluate the McCoy item, which he has for sale. This makes it that much

more important for the experienced collector, as well as any newcomers, to be well informed. In other words, if you do not know what you are looking at - you should not be buying it.

The only protection against buying a fake McCoy is the painstaking study of all aspects of McCoy Pottery. Become as knowledgeable as you can with the study of shapes, decoration, artistic standards, glazes, materials, and the technical quality of the workmanship.

There is no entirely accurate scientific test, which one can use to sift out fakes. We have to rely on our knowledge, and senses to determine whether that McCoy piece is consistent with the period in question. Good fakes are nearly impossible to detect, and sometimes fakes even fool experienced collectors and dealers.

A new collector of McCoy might ask, “How do I know if I am buying a real McCoy?” There are no straightforward answers to this question. One solution is to stay away from dealers who make claims that they do not back up. If they will not guarantee a piece, go down the street, and find someone who will.

Stories abound about the tricks used to fool the experts on McCoy Pottery. Everyone knows a dozen ways to cheat you, and in the end, without investigating, you will be none the wiser. The question then arises, my fellow McCoy collectors, “What are you, and I, going to do about it?

The listing of the names of dealers, who sell non-authentic pieces on auction sites, internet sites, and at shows, is good, but it is not good enough to stop this plague. These people will simply open up under another name, and thus we are no further ahead of the game. As members of the McCoy Pottery Collectors’ Society, we must take a stronger stance in order to put as big a crack as possible in the operations of these defrauders. These unscrupulous people do great harm to McCoy collecting, and to McCoy collectors. They are particularly harmful to new collectors that were stung because they bought a fake McCoy piece. These new collectors can become discouraged before they even consider joining the ranks of our Society.

In order to combat this terrible situation, we must first attack at the outlet source, and not give these people the means to sell their so-called “McCoy’s”. The McCoy Pottery Collectors’ Society, as well as all other sanctioned pottery collector groups, must band together, and put significant pressure on the operators of these auction and internet sites. We need to get these operators to agree that once a designated person of that official collector’s society has advised them that a particular piece of McCoy is not authentic, they would notify the seller, and the item immediately removed. If the seller does not act, then the operator of that site shall have the right to remove the offending piece. I realize that this is not an easy task, but one that is doable if we all work together.

Secondly, sellers who have sold non-authentic “McCoy’s” to unsuspecting buyers, and refuse to accept the return of the piece for a full refund, should be forced by the operator of the site, to reimburse the total price of the item, including shipping costs. All that would be necessary is to provide the operators of these auction, and internet sites, with the appropriate information. This would be easy to do, if the operators would agree to do it.

Thirdly, we must lobby our Senators and Congressmen to pass a law that imposes stiff fines on sellers who repeatedly sell fakes, and order that they be prohibited from further sales. Multi-national companies do it! WHY CAN’T WE?

One final thought - remember to ask yourself as your travels take you to unknown places in your search for the Holy Grail of McCoy pottery, if it is too good to be true - is it the real McCoy? PROBABLY NOT!