Ancient pottery pieces are often forged and sold at high prices. To identify fakes, look for signs such as being heavier, having a soapy feel or evenly colored encrustation. Test for concealed damage by misting water - restorations will show differently. Authentic pottery would emit a duller sound when pinged and a rich soil smell when damp. Only source from reputable dealers who guarantee authenticity and accept returns.

1. How to identify fake ancient pottery
posted Mar 8, 2018, 4:34 PM by Sadigh Gallery [ updated Mar 8, 2018, 4:37 PM ]
Ancient pottery, which encompasses earthenware, stoneware, and
porcelain, isn’t spared from widespread forgery in the art world.
While finding an authentic piece already involves arduous search,
there are fake pieces out there that won’t command suspicion at all
and are sold for high prices.
How should one be protected from these fake pieces? Here are
some expert tips and advice.
Look out for signs of fakery
Fake ancient pottery have obvious characteristics, including a higher
resonance if one “pings” it (due to being more highly fired than
genuine ones), being heavier, having a soapy feel at the surface,
and having encrustation that is evenly colored. The tone of the
painted areas of the glaze, too, is typically darker and more uniform
than ancient examples, meaning no variation of temperature in the
oven. Aesthetics and proportions would generally be off.
Image source: Pinterest.ie
Look for concealed damage
To test, spray the object with a fine mist of water. This way,
restoration signs will frequently show up in different tones from the
original surfaces, since these later additions are impermeable or
absorb water at a rate different from the ancient material.
Identify signs of authenticity

2. Ancient pottery was typically fired at a lower temperature than
modern ones, so it may impart a duller noise once pinged. When
dampened, an unglazed area should also emit a rich soil smell. As a
general rule, be wary of pieces that appear to be completely intact.
Image source: SadighGallery.com
Get your source right
Source ancient pottery and artifacts only from reputable sources,
not those that claim authenticity but wouldn’t guarantee it or offer
returns on any condition. Do due diligence in researching in
reputable authority sites and dealers.
Sadigh Gallery is a family-owned art gallery specializing in ancient
artifacts and coins from around the world. Their prices are very
reasonable, especially for first-time collectors in the handling and
selling of ancient art works and coins from around the world. Read
more on this page.