Fake Christ and Maria candlesticks
Beware of these Fenne fakes! We found the first one in 2004 and our work established the facts for all collectors.
The genuine Classic (old) Christ (aka "Christus") and Maria Candlesticks were made by Brockwitz. The full information on these iconic and very rare items is on our Collectors Facts page. We urge you to read it so that you know the genuine pieces and be able to readily identify the fakes. The fakes use vintage Christ and Maria candlesticks that were mage by Fenne - but, the iridescence on them is not old! It is new - cold-applied and intended to deceive. The iridescence on the fakes will flake and rub off.
The genuine Classic (old) Christ (aka "Christus") and Maria Candlesticks were made by Brockwitz. The full information on these iconic and very rare items is on our Collectors Facts page. We urge you to read it so that you know the genuine pieces and be able to readily identify the fakes. The fakes use vintage Christ and Maria candlesticks that were mage by Fenne - but, the iridescence on them is not old! It is new - cold-applied and intended to deceive. The iridescence on the fakes will flake and rub off.
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.This story will provide comfort. The Fenne fakes are easy to spot - if you know what to look for! You may read some of this story elsewhere (with erroneous details thrown into the mix), but the facts are presented here. We report first hand information and our own original research - because it happened to us
Here is our story. In 2004, we bought a Christ candlestick from a seller in the Netherlands. We were excited as it appeared to be a previously un-reported large size Christ, with scroll feet. When the package arrived we were in for a double shock. The first was that the candlestick was broken—the second was that we could see the iridescence on the item was pale and spotty … and it scrubbed off. It was a fake. We painstakingly glued the huge number of pieces back together, so that we could study the piece. We were able to identify the maker of the candlestick as Fenne and yes, it was an old, vintage candlestick. But, because the candlestick had broken into many small pieces, it was immediately apparent that the iridescence on it had been applied, painted on cold; it was flaking off the broken edges. It was a fake - an attempt to deceive. Shortly afterwards, a UK Carnival Glass dealer sought advice and information from us regarding similar items in both Christ and Maria form. We informed him of our discovery and the Fenne attribution, confirming that the iridescence was a recent, cold application that came off fairly easily. We consulted a friend based in mainland Europe (a well respected glass researcher) and he informed us that the antique markets of Europe were full of old Fenne Jesus and Maria candlesticks in clear or blue base glass, and crucially, of course, they were not iridised. |
FAKE Fenne candlestick
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Genuine Brockwitz
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How to spot the Fenne fakes
Fenne fakes have made several appearances since their first outing in 2004. A few of them turned up in 2008, and again more recently. But as we stated above, they are very easy to spot. The iridescence on these fakes is often light (but we have seen some deeper marigold ones) and spotty and it usually comes off very easily indeed. They also stand around 11 inches high, which is clearly larger than the known Brockwitz originals, and there are many other differences.
There is an easy way to identify them - the base! The base of the fake Fenne candlesticks is very different to the genuine Brockwitz items: they have pointed, ornate fan feet. Look at the two base pictures below - the Fenne fake on the left, and genuine Brockwitz on the right.
Fenne fakes have made several appearances since their first outing in 2004. A few of them turned up in 2008, and again more recently. But as we stated above, they are very easy to spot. The iridescence on these fakes is often light (but we have seen some deeper marigold ones) and spotty and it usually comes off very easily indeed. They also stand around 11 inches high, which is clearly larger than the known Brockwitz originals, and there are many other differences.
There is an easy way to identify them - the base! The base of the fake Fenne candlesticks is very different to the genuine Brockwitz items: they have pointed, ornate fan feet. Look at the two base pictures below - the Fenne fake on the left, and genuine Brockwitz on the right.
FAKE Fenne base
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Brockwitz square base
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What may have added to some confusion over recognising the fake Fenne candlesticks is that the 1915 Brockwitz catalogue shows that they made a 12 inch / 30 cm version of the Christ and Maria candlesticks with a round base and scroll feet - as illustrated far right. Superficially, this base may look like the one on the Fenne fake, but clearly it is very different. Crucially also, this large 12 inch / 30 cm Brockwitz candlestick is so far not known in Carnival - only the 10 inch / 25cm Brockwitz versions (with the square base) have been recorded. Be careful what you read. There is a very misleading comment on the internet: “I believe that someone, somewhere in the world is producing a modern version of the Jesus and Maria Candlesticks with enough small changes to the pattern so as not to infringe the copyright laws, or that some other manufacturers mould is being used.” No, no, no. A thousand times NO - they are not modern. They have used old Fenne Jesus and Maria candlesticks, and it is the iridescent coating that has been opportunistically and recently added to make them FAKES. It’s that simple. The fakes are easy to identify—just look at the base. |
Only the small size Brockwitz candlestick (the one with
the square base on the left) is known in Carnival. |
Read more about Carnival Glass Fakes.