He tried to track down the swindler and failed. Walker views the experience as a lesson learned, and now refuses to buy high-priced items for resale. But he says his conscience won't let him. Yvonne Tucker, director of the National Association of Collectors, which is also based in Huntersville, sold her Roseville collection two years ago for that reason. Others just give up.
Reproductions can hurt a dealer's business, too.
Auctioneers can be victimized too, but can also be caught in the middle when a reproduction surfaces. Va. Even among antiques and collectibles experts, most agree reproductions have their place. In the case of antique furniture, for instance, the real thing carries a huge price tag, and reproductions are sometimes the only way for cost-conscious purchasers to enjoy a particular piece. Many collector clubs have tried to protect their investments by buying up original molds or taking legal action. Requiring a date might make reproductions more difficult to sell in, say, a department store, says Richard Tallin, a buyer for AA Importing Co. in St. Louis, which sells antique reproductions.