Collectors Facts - Kingfisher Fakes
ORIGINAL
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FAKE (A)
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FAKE (B)
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Shapes:
Small berry bowl c.5 inch
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Colours:
See below
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The Kingfisher design featuring a little bird perched upon a branch was originally produced in Carnival by Crown Crystal in the 1920s.
However, at least four faked versions have been observed since 2006. None of them were produced from an original mould. It would seem that as soon as collectors report the differences that are found on the fakes, the faker makes alterations to eliminate the differences!
Currently only the small (5 inch) nappy / berry bowl has been faked and they are rather easy to spot.
FAKE A: This one has been reported on a ruffled small berry in purple (dark) Carnival. The crossover of the encircling twigs is in the wrong place entirely - it is in the top right hand section of the design, whereas it is bottom centre on the original.
Note - it was not possible for us to be fully sure of the position of all the leaves, so they have not all been shown in the sketch above. The background behind the bird is also stippled.
FAKE B: The most telling feature is the "RD", as amusingly, the fake has RP instead of RD. It seems that the small letter D on the original piece was mistaken for a P. This fake version has been reported on a smooth edged (no ruffles) small berry in clear Carnival with a pastel iridescence. The bird is not at all like the original Crown Crystal version and has a totally different tail. The eye appears almond shaped. The branch on which the bird sits does not have the upright twigs. There are more leaves than on the original, but the crossover is in the correct place.
Other differences.
A further version of the fake berry bowl has been reported (thanks to Ray Rogers in Australia). It seems to be a development of FAKE B, with the very important difference that the crossover of the encircling twigs in the correct place (at the centre bottom, as in the original).
More fake small berries showed up in November 2006 (thanks to Cathy Bannister and Julie Hynes in Australia). They were on a clear base glass with a pastel iridescence, as well as marigold and amethyst. There were also some in a pale pink base glass (not iridised).
The edges on most of the fakes so far seen have been either 8 ruffled or unruffled. Note that the genuine, original small bowls usually have 12 tight ruffles.
It appears that that there is visible mould seam around the entire top edge of the fakes, which is not on the original Kingfisher items. Ray Rogers confirmed this observation, further noting that he saw several dark (amethyst) fake that were much thicker than the Crown Crystal originals, and were very heavy. One "marigold" (orange-yellow) example of the fake, however, was of lighter glass.
The exterior and base of the fakes is not at all like the original Crown Crystal pieces either.
Fakes have been reported in a pearly white Carnival finish.
The iridescence, the base, the finish - all have characteristics that an experienced collector would immediately recognise is wrong. They are clearly very inferior in all aspects, when compared with an original item. So far, the only fakes we are aware of are the small nappy / berry bowls.
The ORIGINAL Kingfisher
However, at least four faked versions have been observed since 2006. None of them were produced from an original mould. It would seem that as soon as collectors report the differences that are found on the fakes, the faker makes alterations to eliminate the differences!
Currently only the small (5 inch) nappy / berry bowl has been faked and they are rather easy to spot.
FAKE A: This one has been reported on a ruffled small berry in purple (dark) Carnival. The crossover of the encircling twigs is in the wrong place entirely - it is in the top right hand section of the design, whereas it is bottom centre on the original.
Note - it was not possible for us to be fully sure of the position of all the leaves, so they have not all been shown in the sketch above. The background behind the bird is also stippled.
FAKE B: The most telling feature is the "RD", as amusingly, the fake has RP instead of RD. It seems that the small letter D on the original piece was mistaken for a P. This fake version has been reported on a smooth edged (no ruffles) small berry in clear Carnival with a pastel iridescence. The bird is not at all like the original Crown Crystal version and has a totally different tail. The eye appears almond shaped. The branch on which the bird sits does not have the upright twigs. There are more leaves than on the original, but the crossover is in the correct place.
Other differences.
A further version of the fake berry bowl has been reported (thanks to Ray Rogers in Australia). It seems to be a development of FAKE B, with the very important difference that the crossover of the encircling twigs in the correct place (at the centre bottom, as in the original).
More fake small berries showed up in November 2006 (thanks to Cathy Bannister and Julie Hynes in Australia). They were on a clear base glass with a pastel iridescence, as well as marigold and amethyst. There were also some in a pale pink base glass (not iridised).
The edges on most of the fakes so far seen have been either 8 ruffled or unruffled. Note that the genuine, original small bowls usually have 12 tight ruffles.
It appears that that there is visible mould seam around the entire top edge of the fakes, which is not on the original Kingfisher items. Ray Rogers confirmed this observation, further noting that he saw several dark (amethyst) fake that were much thicker than the Crown Crystal originals, and were very heavy. One "marigold" (orange-yellow) example of the fake, however, was of lighter glass.
The exterior and base of the fakes is not at all like the original Crown Crystal pieces either.
Fakes have been reported in a pearly white Carnival finish.
The iridescence, the base, the finish - all have characteristics that an experienced collector would immediately recognise is wrong. They are clearly very inferior in all aspects, when compared with an original item. So far, the only fakes we are aware of are the small nappy / berry bowls.
The ORIGINAL Kingfisher
ORIGINAL Crown Crystal Kingfisher
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The Crown Crystal original Kingfisher is shown on the left, and in detail below.
It was originally registered in 1923 and the Registered Design number, RD 4184, is moulded onto both the 9 inch master and the 5 inch nappy / berry bowls. Note that the letter D is a smaller size and is underlined. They have no mould seams - they were made from a one piece mould by the "stuck-up" method and consequently they have ground base. There are two versions of both the master and the berry originals: one has sprays of wattle leaves encircling the bird, the other has wattle leaves with the addition of blossoms. None have exterior patterns. 
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