Ribbon Question -Original Or Modern

[gjw]

Hey all, so....what is one way(s) you can tell if a trifold ribbon is original or a modern reproduction?

 

Any info would be great!

 

Thanks as always!

 

Greg

[gjw]

Thanks so very much!!!!  Great info and very helpful.

 

Does this also apply to ribbon bars as well?

 

Thanks again!

 

Greg

[gjw]

Thanks again, sure do appreciate you passing on your knowledge, it's very helpful to a new A-H collector like me.

 

Stay well!

 

Greg

[BlackcowboyBS]

On 26/04/2022 at 17:26, Simius Rex said:

You're welcome. 

 

Just be careful... it is easy to mistake a CHAIN STITCHED edge with a WEFT edge. 

 

The chain stitch's weave pattern from the front looks like it has loops of sorts, but looking at it from the side, one can see the pattern that looks like continuous links of chain.

Interesting and helpful post, but why is the difference between chain stiged edge to a weft edge of any importance if both are only shown on modern ribbons? Or do I get something wrong? 

[Peter Cornwell]

Ausgezeichnet! A really informative thread (no pun intended). Medal Ribbons 101. Many thanks Simius. 

[gjw]

Hey SR, great info again!!!  Say, is it possible for you to show the differences between the whip and chain ribbons sideways view under magnification?

 

Thanks so much!

 

Greg

[gjw]

Hey SR, yep, your right about terminology, me bad!!!  I know better, just was in a rush.

 

Heck, I must be losing it in my old age!  I blew right past the one example you posted........sorry!

 

Again, thanks for all your input, your a wealth of info, very much appreciated.

 

Best,

 

Greg 

[Elmar Lang]

helIo,

 

I hope not to upset the apple cart, but after my own, perhaps limited experience, I'd dare to say that not all modern ribbons are chain stitched. There are manufacturers, still making them in the warp/weft pattern. Where the difference from older ones, depends on the materials used to make them.

 

Let's never forget, that a forger, quite often uses original ribbons, same as a forger of old masters' paintings often uses (otherwise expensive) original pigments and tools, for his creations: the quality of the material used, depends on the target: a high-end collector or an avid, but unexperienced one.

 

Modern-made ribbons are a solution for fast-selling fakes (besides the honest replacement of temporarily unavailable original ones), especially via-the web or flea-markets, targeting to the already mentioned, unexperienced collectors.

 

I would like to add a further "alarm-bell" towards certain modern ribbons, that appear as having been "age-enhanced", by immersion in tea or diluted coffee: they're quite soft and the white sections are of a uniform yellow-brownish shade (see the bavarian bar, illustrated in detail on May 6th's post). Such ribbons do exist either in the chain-stitchen and warp/weft pattern. Usually, the tea/coffee aged, soft ribbons are typical of the mass-produced fakes of a now passed away, german faker, whose "workshop leftovers" apparently are widely used by further, modern creatives.

 

A German collector, decades ago, proudly said at a collectors' meeting "Lernen vom Original!" (learn from the originals!)... very wise words, but pity, he too was the victim of a fantastic, extremely creative forger.

 

There's not a rule, to detect a falsification. A falsification, can be detected thanks to the experience acquired through study, confrontation, research and even after having learned something, after instructive mistakes.

 

All the best,

 

Enzo (E.L.)