How to Spot Fake Scalamandre
According to the Queens Tribune, Scalamandre is "a luxury textile manufacturer ... that has provided artistic pieces for every United States president for the past 75 years." The company is famous for producing extremely fancy and artistic fabrics such as satin, linen, silk and hand-crafted silkscreen wallpaper constructions. Because Scalamandre designs grace the walls of the White House, Gracie Mansion and countless museums it is often mimicked by low-quality imitators. Fakes lack certain defining characteristics of real Scalamandre pieces.
Instructions
-
-
1
Check the purity of the fabric. Real Scalamandre fabric is usually 100 percent silk or cotton. If the fabric in question has silk or cotton blended with rayon or other materials, it's a sure sign of a fake.
-
2
Check the name of the pattern; the name should be a recognizable. If you're not sure, double check the name against the patterns listed on the official Scalamandre website at scalamandre.com. If the website does not list the name of the pattern, it's most likely fake.
-
-
3
Examine the pattern for accuracy. If the fabric in question features a famous Scalamandre pattern, compare it to the original. One famous Scalamandre pattern is Villa Lante Stripe, known for its contrasting stripes. Most fakes lack the telltale stripes. Scalamandre knockoffs often feature another famous pattern--Melograno, which is the Italian word for pomegranate. However, the fake fabrics usually do not show any pomegranates.
-
4
Check the price. Scalamandre fabric sells upward of $300 per yard. Hence, it's a luxury fabric. Anything at a lower price is likely to be fake.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
If purchasing online and the picture shows you a shot of bunched up fabric, it's likely to be fake. Real sellers of Scalamandre fabric know that they have to showcase the weave and other details. Reputable dealers will take a snapshot of a flat square of fabric.
References
- Photo Credit The White House image by dwight9592 from Fotolia.com
