ideas, advice on what to look for to compare original to reproductions? thanks for looking
... not an easy task.
Basically no squared buckles. Velvet reflects wear easily, so there should be some wear if it is not a mint piece, which are very rare.
Reverse w/o velvet - be carefull, mostly all wrong.
Lion heads have to be identical. Material must be correct, one has to know his stuff. Full brass with a fire gild - brass with a gild wash - non-ferrous metal - a mixture of both - Aluminium.
This and matching patina is the key.
