Imperial Russia Help identify shoulder boards

[dante]

Been offered these, welcome your thoughts also price if possible, many thanks, Paul

[Aceton]

Fake.

[Hauptmann]

Fake.

Can you give the reason(s) why? It will help to educate other members. And if you have pics of an original set for comparison that would be even better for a side by side comparison. I've noticed alot of Imperial Russian items including shoulder boards have been popping up on Ebay of late and I'm sure in other places so would definitely be good to know what to look for to avoid the fakes.

Many thanks!

Dan

[Aceton]

These are soviet boards with attached monogramms of the Empress Maria Feodorovna. Even if not counting the fact that boards are soviet, this particular combination of insignia, color of stripes, color of cloth and color of lace is simply unreal: none of the four regiments having the Empress as a Chief did have such combination. BTW, insignia is fake too. As for education, sorry, I'm not an online teacher - I have only answered your actual questions, because I feel ashamed when such cheap stuff is very often being positioned as "real treasures of Imperial Russia" by Ebay dealers. But if I will clearly understand your interest I will definitely tell you more details in personal correspondence.

Edited November 20, 2010 by Aceton

[Hauptmann]

These are soviet boards with attached monogramms of the Empress Maria Feodorovna. Even if not counting the fact that boards are soviet, this particular combination of insignia, color of stripes, color of cloth and color of lace is simply unreal: none of the four regiments having the Empress as a Chief did have such combination. BTW, insignia is fake too. As for education, sorry, I'm not an online teacher - I have only answered your actual questions, because I feel ashamed when such cheap stuff is very often being positioned as "real treasures of Imperial Russia" by Ebay dealers. But if I will clearly understand your interest I will definitely tell you more details in personal correspondence.

Many thanks. This is most helpful. Again it's always better to state the reasons instead of just saying "fake" or "bad", etc. Otherwise no one learns what to avoid in future. Deeply appreciate the extra info and the help on the original post!

Dan

[dante]

Many thanks. This is most helpful. Again it's always better to state the reasons instead of just saying "fake" or "bad", etc. Otherwise no one learns what to avoid in future. Deeply appreciate the extra info and the help on the original post!

Dan

H many thanks for the extra detail, P

[Aceton]

Just try to think of this kind of philosophy, which could help you in the future: what is the true reason to spend money on items, belonging to the area where you are not a specialist? Only a naive hope for a lucky chance to get a really great item for reasonable money? Or belief that the seller has no idea what he sell, and offers good items with wrong identifications, which result in low competitor activity? Both of these reasons will surely bring fakes into your collection, because the only true reason for decision to buy could be your professional knowledge in this particular area. Well, some people think that they could be specialists in all areas: nazi uniforms, soviets, Imperials, British Victorian militaria... Or maybe thinking that having professional knowledge in items of one histoty period, this experience will bring them success in covering new areas. But judjing on Russian forums I see very few examples where people reach impressive results in covering multiple areas: for example, I know professional collectors of elite regimental badges, who spend huge money on fake shoulder-boards, professionals in collecting rare soviet uniforms who buy low-quality theatrical items, "supposed to be Russian Imperial Guards", etc. Just think of it. I don't claim that foreigners should "leave Russian uniforms for Russians", my idea is different: if you rely on lucky chance rather than on your knowledge, you become not a hunter, but rather a victim, and further complaints on bad guys selling bad items are naive and useless.