10-01-2010, 01:38 PM
EricFG Wrote:That is a Chinese copy. I'm not sure if they are made to deceive or not. I hope not as they are just awful as far as quality is concerned. Take note of the suspension as it's totally typical of poor, Chinese copies.
Maybe they are made as tourist trinkets? Or is it a subtle, communist plot to rule the decadent, Western collector's world? I'm not sure except for one thing; it's crap.
G'day Eric,
While I do not dispute your assertion that this is a Chinese copy I would be grateful to know what hard evidence you have to back up your declaration regarding the origin of this curiosity. I note your comment regarding the suspension but have you personally seen an ad for this copy from a Chinese vendor or know someone who has? The reason I ask is that just last week I picked up one of these very crude copies in an antique store in a remote country town in the the middle of Victoria, Australia. Of course, I recognized it as the remarkably crude copy it is at once but my curiosity was aroused and I wondered why it had been made and where it had come from, when and how had it ended up where I found it. Naturally, there's no way of ever knowing the "when" and "how". So, I bought it in the hope that someone on the fourm could shed some light on it. Although it is obviously a crudely made copper copy it shows genuine signs of considerable age. Then, when I finally sit down to post my copy here I find that it has already been posted and summarily dismissed without any serious comment or discussion. Anyway, here's the example of this copy that I picked up. If anyone has any factual information or serious comment about it I will be most thankful to receive it. Thanks.
Regards,
Jim
