Buyer Be Aware – Fake Tiffany Inkstand

A major red flag is the obvious fake Tiffany mark. Beyond the illegitimate mark, there are several “red flags” in the construction, casting quality, and materials that indicate this is not a genuine Tiffany Studios piece.

1. Construction and Joinery

• Crude Hinges: The hinges on this inkstand are a major giveaway. Genuine Tiffany Studios hinges were typically precise, discreet, and integrated smoothly into the design. Here, one can see an exposed threaded rod or screw acting as a hinge pin. This is low-quality assembly work that Tiffany would not have passed.
• Visible Nuts and Bolts: The owls are attached to the base with standard nuts and bolts. Tiffany Studios pieces were generally cast as integrated units or assembled with much finer, hidden joinery. Using crude hardware-store fasteners on the underside of a “luxury” desk set is a hallmark of modern reproductions.
• Hollow/Unfinished Underside: The underside is rough, hollow, and unfinished. While some Tiffany desk pieces were hollow, they usually had a distinct, cleaner casting or a base plate. The roughness here suggests a quick sand-casting process typical of mass reproductions.

2. Casting Quality

• “Soft” Details: Tiffany bronze casting was renowned for its crispness. If you look at the owls’ feathers and faces, the details look “soft,” almost as if they were made of melted chocolate. This “loss of definition” often happens when a mold is made from an existing piece rather than an original master model – a process known as “recastering.”
• Lack of Finishing: A genuine Tiffany bronze would have hand-chasing (refining the metal with tools) to sharpen the eyes, beak, and talons. These owls look like they came straight out of the mold with no refinement.

3. Materials

• The Liner: The inkwell insert is a simple metal cup. Genuine Tiffany Studios inkwells universally used glass liners. These were often clear, milky glass, or sometimes patterned (like the “zebra” pattern), but rarely a crude metal bucket.
• The Patina: The finish on this piece is a flat, muddy, uniform dark brown. Genuine Tiffany patina is “living” and complex, often showing variegation (greens mixed with browns, or reddish hues) or a specific finish like “gold dore”.

4. The “Fantasy” Design

While Tiffany did use owls in their designs (specifically in the “American Indian” pattern or as single paperweights), this specific “two huddled owls” design is an undocumented Tiffany Studios inkstand model. It is a “fantasy piece”—a design that Tiffany never actually produced, that has been deceptively stamped with the Tiffany name to increase its value. Sadly, someone paid over $600 for this inkstand in November 2025.