Whether you are buying antique furniture, pottery, or older collectibles, you need to be aware of whether you are buying an original or a reproduction. There are reproductions in all areas, so you need to do your homework.

A reproduction isn’t necessarily a bad thing. A Tiffany lamp sold for $2.8 million at Christies in 1997. So, a reproduction Tiffany lamp is a nice alternative for those of us not named Gates - as long as you know what you are getting.

An antique dealer can order reproductions from a variety of sources. Castle Antiques & Reproductions is an example of a business based on selling antiques and antique reproduction furniture. Castle will sell only to dealers and not to the general public .

Reproductions are available to the public in many antique shops. Most shops require dealers to label reproductions as such, but dealers may not be aware that an item is a reproduction. So, Caveat Emptor!

It’s often difficult to tell original items from reproduction when you actually see something in person, and it can be next to impossible from looking at pictures on online auction sites. You should learn as much as possible about what you are going to purchase. Study the item carefully and ask questions. Does it looks like other old ones that you have seen? Also ask yourself if the dealer is reputable. Do they specialize in this area? Will the seller allow returns?

Newsgroups and mailing lists can be helpful, and you can use a search engine to gather more information. For example, entering “Fiestaware” and “reproduction” will provide a large number of Web sites with information on reproduction Fiestaware. Please note that the search engine will search the name exactly as it appears on a Web site. So, you may also try “Fiesta ware” and “reproduction” and “Fiesta” and “reproduction” to obtain as much information as possible.

The Web site below contains some interesting bits of information that may be helpful when you are antique hunting: http://maxpages.com/barryallen/Real_or_Reproduction.