How to tell an original porcelain sign from a reproduction

Why reproductions are everywhere

Original porcelain gas, oil and soda signs have climbed in value for years, and reproductions followed. Some are honest decor sold as new. Others are aged on purpose and passed off as old. A few minutes of checking will tell you which one you are looking at.

Feel the weight and the edge

Original porcelain signs were made by fusing glass enamel onto heavy-gauge steel. A real sign feels heavy for its size and stiff when you lift a corner. Many reproductions use thinner steel that flexes and feels light.

Look for layered color

On a true porcelain sign, each color was applied and fired separately. Run a fingertip across a color boundary and you can often feel a slight step from one layer to the next. Printed reproductions are flat, with every color at the same level.

Read the chips

Chips are the best tell. On an original, a chip usually shows a dark base coat or bare steel, sometimes with rings of each color layer around the edge. Chips tend to cluster where the sign was handled or bolted: corners, edges and mounting holes.

Be wary of chips that look painted on, damage spread evenly across the face, or rust that looks bright orange and fresh inside every chip.

Check the holes and the maker's mark

Mounting holes and markings near the bottom edge give a lot away.

• Many originals have brass or steel grommets in the mounting holes.
• Look for a maker's name along the bottom edge, such as Ing-Rich, Veribrite or Burdick. Marks can be faked, so treat this as one clue, not proof.
• Odd sizes, misspellings or logos from the wrong decade point to a reproduction.

Ask the dealer

A good dealer will tell you what they know about a sign and whether it has been restored. At Vintage Finds Antiques we focus on authentic vintage advertising, and if a piece is a reproduction or has been restored, we say so on the tag.