Who's behind it?
Find out who the manufacturer is and who the authorised retailers are. Beware of words such as ‘in the style of’, ‘inspired by’, or ‘reproduction’ in the product description. It will probably be a copy.
Pay attention to detail
Look for distinguishing features. Castiglioni's Arco lamp, for example, is always 2.2m high and has a vertical counter weight; imitations are usually smaller and have a horizontal counter weight. Eames Lounge chairs should have five legs while many imitations have four. Don’t buy on impulse. If it looks like a bargain but you aren’t sure, do some further research.
Check for ID
Most original pieces will have the designer’s signature or a serial number. The Barcelona chair has a serial number under the fork, the Tulip chair and table have a Knoll logo on the base and the
Eileen Gray adjustable table has a signature on the frame (Aram also holds the exclusive license to Eileen Gray products in the UK). Eames Loungers are stamped with a Vitra logo, Arne Jacobsen chairs have a Jacobsen signature under the seat and the Panton table
has a raised Panton signature where the chair meets the floor. For other designs, contact the manufacturer and ask how to distinguish their product from a copy.
Get materialistic
Original designs, right down to the tiniest details, will be lovingly made of the highest quality materials. If it feels or looks flimsy, you're right to be suspicious.
Fair play
Authorised manufacturers often commit to ethical working practices, pay their craftspeople a fair wage and use environmentally-friendly manufacturing methods. Peter Younie, MD of lighting specialist Cameron Peters says the rise of fake pieces means there will be fewer classics in the future. 'Some companies are prepared to take a risk and invest in design but they need income from their successes to invest in the future,' he says. 'Companies who make copies drive those who took the original risk out of business. They are making the world a more boring place.'
Cheap and cheerful
If your budget won’t stretch but you’re set on owning a classic design, then a copy might be your solution. Just don't be misled by your purchase. Chrystina Schmidt, who runs design store Skandium, says: 'Not everyone wants to pay a lot of money for furniture and that’s fair enough. But there are exciting alternatives to buying shoddy fake goods. I think it’s great to find second hand things and be creative with them. If you’re looking for a chair, buy a second-hand one, repaint it and make it your own. It beats a fake any day.'
Play safe, be original and buy bespoke. Our guide will help you to commission a craftsperson.
Starting an art collection? Kate Moss & co are. Follow our ten-step guide to becoming a buyer.
Should fakes be illegal? Are they killing the design world? Or do they allow ordinary folk access to the good stuff? Tell us what you think and post a comment below.
