I saw a Chinese copy of a Victorian fireplace - it was the first time I'd seen cherubs with Oriental eyes. I've heard of some cracking under heat. Under that newly painted surface could be filler, an obvious sign of poor quality. Now, top dealers are using their knowledge to remake old designs. Using proportion as a guideline, they're keeping the essence of the original concept alive.
Salvage is about saving skills as well as objects.
The dealers call their reproductions 'replicas' to distance themselves from the mass-produced repro. But if you still want to buy an original, the sources haven't run dry. I have some lovely 'salvagers' who, like me, prefer the slightly bashed combined with the glorious tinge of age. I must tell you about Aubrey. His wife wanted to get him an old dustbin as a birthday present and the repro designs are just not right - they taper in at the bottom.