While browsing thru McCoy Pottery just recently, I saw something that deeply disturbed me. Fakes. And a LOT of them. And many gullible bidders paying high prices for cookie jars that just aren't the REAL McCoy.
Black Mammy? She should be EXACTLY 11" tall. Not ALMOST 11", not 11-1/2" but EXACTLY 11". These jars that aren't the right size are ALL fakes. The reason they aren't 11" is that they are made from a mold that has been cast OVER an ORIGINAL. Therefore, they are NOT the right size. Mostly you will see jars that are about 1/2" to 3/4" smaller than the original.
These sellers that are putting these fake McCoys are a disgrace to eBay. They are misleading people into believing that they are buying a genuine vintage piece of McCoy Pottery....and I'm sad to say, they have been taken to the cleaners. THey are quite clever, these sellers. They keep their bidder's IDs private....so those who know better cannot warn those unfortunate folk who have a bid in on a FAKE. Not only are they keeping ID's private, but they are also quite good at giving the items they are selling "an aged patina" aka crazing. Yes, even the crazing is fake. You can purchase "crazing" products at your local craft store. Does this make it old? NO. Does it make it LOOK old? YES. It is DECEPTIVE? Only if you don't say "this is a reproduction McCoy cookie jar." In the case of these morally deficient sellers, they are deliberately putting these pieces out there. If you read the wording in their ads you will see that they dance around the facts. The closest they come to admitting they are selling FAKE items is by saying "Please make sure the item you are bidding on is what you want". My advice? ASK the size. And...ask- is this a reproduction piece? And finally,
For very good, ACCURATE information on REAL McCoy Pottery, try going to a website devoted to McCoy. Try www.mccoylovers.com and then click on the link for NMXpress. That is a good start.
DON'T GET Taken! Be informed.
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