RLalique.com

R Lalique Copies: Of the thousands of different RLalique items produced during the lifetime of Rene Lalique, there are only a small number that have been copied so closely that they can fool even some R Lalique collectors. Most of what is labeled falsely as RLalique are items that are similar in style but not close copies, so for the collector, it is not a big problem. Here we identify the pieces that we have seen copies that are close enough to the real thing, that these copies create cause for concern even if you are familiar with the works of Rene Lalique. Again, just be cautious when acquiring these closely copied models to be sure you are getting a genuine Rene Lalique item and not a copy. Also, keep in mind that most of these copies were not intended at the time of manufacture to fool anyone. Someone just borrowed, bought, or appropriated what they thought was a good design. However in more modern times, with a little polishing, a little patina, and maybe a little signature addition or alteration, these mainly innocent close copies can present a problem for the unsuspecting purchaser. Following are known items of concern. If you have questions about a particular piece or any specific concerns, check our Authentication Services for information on how we can help.

Perruches Vase - Consolidated Glass

The Consolidated Glass Company, operating a large glass manufacturing plant in Pennsylvania, made a line of glass items called Martele, which was introduced after the 1925 Paris Exhibition and was produced up until the 1960's. This line, as described by it's designers, and as obvious from appearances, was heavily influenced by the designs of Rene Lalique, including one work which is a direct copy. There are several vases in this line notably Bird of Paradise, which are nearly copies of Rene Lalique designs. The Bird of Paradise vase is a close (but distinguishable) copy of the RLalique Aras Vase. So for these several items, the differences can be spotted quite easily, without even a close inspection. However, there is one design that is basically identical to an RLalique design, the Consolidated Love Birds Vase. This vase is a near perfect copy of the RLalique Perruches Vase, and was made by Consolidated in a variety of colors and finishes. On appearance, this vase is good enough to fool many people, including novice collectors. However, the main visual difference is that the rim of the Consolidated vase is slightly everted at the top. But in the non-cased (double layer of glass) versions of the vase, it appears that this everted part of the rim can be polished away, leaving a visually amazingly good copy of the RLalique Perruches. Of course, Consolidated marketed these vases as their own, and had no intent to fool anyone. But with the passage of time, there have been Love Birds vases appearing on the market with spurious signatures, patinas and some polishing, that have been represented as RLalique. As we discussed in the Intro To Fakes and Frauds subsection, the best defense is to handle as much RLalique as you can. An experienced collector would know from the feel of the vase, from the weight and the finish, that the Consolidated Vase is not RLalique. Also note that some copies of the Perruches emanating from Czechoslovakia have also appeared in the past. The light purple vase shown above and to the left is a Consolidated Vase purchased on Ebay for $99 in like new condition, where it was properly identified. It is cased glass, and not a bad looker for the money. It's just not RLalique. Neither is the 2nd Consolidated example shown.

Archers Vase

In recent years, several Archers Vases have appeared from the same location, that have given cause for concern. These are basically exact design copies, but low mold quality, low finish quality of the base area especially, and interesting signatures. A black one is shown here, along with the signature appearing on the underside of the vase.

Espalion Vase

Two different colored Espalion Vases have come to light that are highly questionable. The dark almost neon green one shown here has appeared twice that we know of in the last 5 years. Both examples had the same color, the same poor finish to the base area, and the same signature.

Sauterelles (Grasshoppers) Vase

Without a doubt, this is the RLalique Vase that appears in suspect form more than any other vase. It has appeared in many unusual colors, as well as some of the standard RLalique varieties such as clear and frosted (with and without patina) and blue. These vases initially were characterized by a very high thick rim, but lately there have been examples that more closely match the real RLalique version at least in rim shape and height. The actual vase design is identical to the RLalique Sauterelles. There are enough of these copies floating around that for this vase, serious caution is required if you are considering an acquisition of a colored or clear and frosted Sauterelles, even for experienced collectors.

Gros Scarabees (Beetles)

Suspect Gros Scarabees Vases have appeared several times in recent years, including at major auction houses. There appear to be at least two different sources of fakes, as the vases are not made from the same molds as each other. But half a dozen have surfaced in both clear and colored versions. Both of the pictured Gros Scarabees Vases are not the work of Rene Lalique. Here is a link to an R Lalique Blog Post we did in March 2009 discussing the Fake Rene Lalique Gros Scarabees Vases.

Acanthus Vase

Very low quality Acanthus Vases have appeared over time, as well as Acanthus Vases that are low quality and have straight rims that appear unfinished. It's almost as if these vases were made from an old mold, as they lack detail and in many cases, the rim lacks the finished shape. The straight rim versions are usually in clear or frosted glass, but there have been a couple of colored ones. Low quality suspicious Acanthus Vases with finished rims have appeared mainly in frosted and shades of blue, however there may be others. Care should be exercised when acquiring either category of Acanthus Vase.

Malines Vase - Fenton Glass

There is one pretty close opalescent copy to the Malines Vase. It sometimes appears with a spurious signature or just advertised as RLalique even though it is not. We have never seen this close call in colored, clear, or frosted glass. This close call was manufactured by the Fenton Art Glass Company but was sold in bulk unsigned to at least two other glass companies for retail marketing. Those companies were DeVilbiss and Wrisley. The suspect Malines is pictured, including one with an original wooden stopper. It may have been retailed with more than one style stopper, and was also reported to have been made to accommodate an atomizer as well.

Persons Majestic Car Mascots

Persons Majestic Manufacturing Company in Worcester, Massachusetts sold three close copies of RLalique mascots in the 1930's. They are Victoire, Tete d' Aigle, and Longchamps. They are appropriately marked when in original condition, and are highly collectible on their own. However, in the past, before they increased in value, some of these were altered and represented as RLalique items. Pictured are two of the three Persons mascots.

Victoire (Spirit of the Wind) Car Mascot

There is a Czech version of this mascot as well as a Persons Majestic Manufacturing Company version. Shown is the Czech version that appears quite often, sometimes properly identified, sometimes improperly represented as RLalique. This particular one has a fake raised RLalique signature, which appears to be in the mold, but which is not molded and is not authentic.

Tete D'epervier (Hawks Head) Car Mascot

Copies of the Hawks Head mascot have appeared in a few different colors, including the pictured solid white opalescent, and clear.

Vezelay Ashtray

The Vezelay Ashtray by RLalique was copied by someone in the US back in the day. Pictured is an unsigned green copy that is quite good (as copies go), but not RLalique.

Cire Perdue Vase

The pictured vase appeared in 2009 with an R. Lalique signature. It's discussed in this Lalique Cire Perdue? News and Blog Article.

Coq Nain Car Mascot or Paperweight

The Coq Nain was sold by Rene Lalique as both a car mascot and a paperweight. There are 3 known original Coq Nain "colors". Rene Lalique made the Coq Nain in clear glass and in a gray/topaz color with a red center! Note that some original clear Coq Nain car mascots have been seen with a bit of a light amethyst tint to them (not be to confused with ones that were radiated long after they were sold to change them from clear to purple in color). See Radiated Lalique for more information! So to summarize, known originals are clear, clear with slight amethyst tint, and the gray with red center.

Copies have appeared which are attributed to both Czech and South American sources. We do not know if they come from one or both places. The copies are in funky colors including the two shown here. In addition to these two colors, there is also a pale green color copy as well. The copies have appeared with no signature, with a scratched Lalique France signature, and with the full R. Lalique signature.

The Coq Nain was also reproduced in clear crystal by Cristal Lalique after the death of Rene Lalique and was still on their retail price list in the year 2004. These modern clear crystal reproductions have appeared with forged R. Lalique signatures. For more information see Modern Lalique Crystal Reproductions of original Rene Lalique Glass designs.

Deux Colombes Clock

The clock shown in the photo here is a very close copy of the R Lalique clock Deux Colombes. When compared to a real Rene Lalique clock, a quick check of the position of the tops of the birds heads or the amount of glass / space at the bottom of the clock underneath the dial will reveal the close copy shown here. The close copy has the left bird head elevated, and more space below the dial.

The stand in the photo is superfluous, as the close call clock has appeared with and without the stand. The authentic Deux Colombes Clock is Catalogue Raisonne No. 727. We do not know the maker of the close copy.

3 Chardonneret Bird Paperweights- Timide, Hardi, and Moqueur

A Czech glass comany made close copies of the paperweight set of 3 Chardonnerets (Goldfinches) which are Rene Lalique 1931 model numbers 1209 (Chardonneret Timide), 1210 (Chardonneret Hardi), and 1211 (Chardonneret Moqueur) in the Catalogue Raisonne. You can see in the photo here all three birds in an old Czech retailer catalogue.

The blue bird pictured is the close copy of Chardonneret Hardi and is accompanied by a photo of the forged signature that was on the underside of the base of bird. If you carefully compare the design detail of the close call to the original Rene Lalique Model, especially on the front side of the bird, you will be able to pick out the differences.

Close call Czech copies of these birds were made in different colors and are still available new today:

Muguet Perfume Bottle - Irice

Irice - A New York company formed during the roaring 20's, was (and may still be today) a contractor and importer of glass items. During their history they contracted out the manufacture of various items from different countries including in the United States, and they imported glass items from countries including Czechoslovakia, Germany, Taiwan and Japan. One of these imported items is a near exact copy of the R Lalique Perfume Bottle Muguet!

After World War II, the company began contracting out and importing from West Germany. It is there that we believe the close copies of the Muguet Perfume Bottle were made. Two colors of stoppers have appeared. One is described variously as pale green, neon green, jade or just green, and the other as pale amethyst or clear lavender.

The amethyst bottle shown here appeared with the mark Irice Made In Saxony! Most have long daubers that may be broken off or polished off.

Also note that we know of no evidence that the authentic Rene Lalique Muguet Perfume Bottle was made with a colored stopper. But in any event, Muguet Perfume Bottles with these two color stoppers were made by Irice. We have also included a photo of an Irice bottle that is a take-off of the Rene Lalique Perfume Bottle Deux Fleurs both to show another example of Irice bottles with designs similar to Rene Lalique's designs, and also to show the typical label for Irice.

The two colors of Irice Muguet Bottles shown here have appeared in various books and catalogues as being authentic works of Rene Lalique. We believe that the primary reference source for this authenticity claim was misinformed and made an honest mistake based on the limited information available at that time.

Back To Top Of Page