Greetings!
I have attached some pics of what appears to be an awesome mint collection of Roycroft Karl Kipp Vienna Sessionist pieces that I came across in a New England Antique Mall. However, none of the pieces carry a Roycroft mark; each one has only the mark shown in lower-left corner of the picture. They look like the real deal... they are heavy-gauge copper, show remarkable workmanship, and are the same size as the originals I have seen on sites such as www.roycroftcopper.com.
I would love to buy this lot, but the unfamiliar mark and the like-new condition tell me they are likely reproductions, albeit quality ones. If it's too good to be true... Does anyone out there know if somebody is reproducing these items? Is the mark familiar to anyone?
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh296/vpep_photos/IMG_1158mark.jpg
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh296/vpep_photos/mark_small.jpg

All of the pieces are desirable and look to be in pristene condition. I am not familiar with the marks. Perhaps you could contact owner of the Roycroftcopper.com site and ask if he has seen the mark before.

I will see what I can find in Reproductions. The patina on this set looks new and without seeing them in person it is difficult to say.

Let us know what you find out.

Thank you, Fred. I appreciate your help!
I have sent an email to roycroftcopper.com but have not yet received a response.
Also, I see that I didn't insert the image code properly so they could be viewed in line. I'll try again, and add another pic or two.
Vince

Vince,

There are folks out there reproducing these desirable pieces. I do not recognize this mark. I wish I were better versed on all the copper workers at the Roycroft Shop. A few went on to form their own shops. Kipp and Cole are the most familiar I have seen some wonderful pieces by Walter Jennings as well. Much of what is currently being made is marked with the back to back Rs of the Roycroft Revival. I know a few of these craftsmen and the mark on your pieces do not look familiar.

I have sent out a request for information to the Roycroft online group and perhaps they will be able to help.

Fred, I just received a response from Dave at roycroftcopper.com:
"the pieces are new and were made by a guy named mark horn. he does nice work."

So I guess my question about authenticity is answered! I have replied to Dave asking whether he knows anything else about Mark Horn, like where his shop is or whether he sells his work online; I googled Mark Horn and got nothing. The dealer is asking about $5,000 for the lot, which seems a bit high for reproductions.

Vince,

So glad that you received a responce from Roycroft Copper. The owner of the site does know his stuff when it comes to Roycroft metal. I have not heard of Mark Horn and it is hard to say if $5k is too much to pay for the lot. I am certain Mark has spent much time learning his craft and the workmanship looks superb. I suspect the price is reasonable for retail of his work.

Had these been by an original Roycroft craftsman, their value would be many times higher. Most of these designs are rare in Roycroft market and demand high prioces.

Thanks for sharing the information about Mark Horn and his work. This is why forums like this are created and why they are so valuable.

Yes, the work looks very good. However, it is very unlikely to appreciate the way a vintage piece of Roycroft would. I'd buy maybe one piece, but beware of dealers who demand you buy an entire collection(!). What is the reason for that? Last summer, there was a kid here in town trying to sell a group of four Morris chairs( nothing special--Royal, etc.); he wouldn't sell them separately despite my advice that he'd sell them faster and for more. Many months later, he finally sold them for something like $150 a piece after starting out at three grand for all four!

It would be interesting what Mark Horn charges to make these.

I agree that these may never see their value appreciate like the originals and I too would want to know if they are priced individually.

So sorry I misled you all, the dealer is offering the pieces individually... there is also a bullet vase which is not pictured. The prices range from about $800 for the bullet vase to $1500 for the jardiniere. The other vases are around $900 apiece, and I think the jewelry box is $1200. He would have given a 10% discount if I purchased the group pictured.
I'm pretty sure that copies of Roycroft masterpieces would not appreciate at anything like the rate the originals have done, regardless of the skill displayed in their execution.
I would also like to know how much Mark Horn sells these for, or if he is even still making them. Dave at roycroftcopper.com had only heard of Mark because a friend purchased one of the jardinieres. Dave does not, however, know how much the friend paid for it, or where Mark's workshop is located.
The antique mall dealer told me he found the pieces pictured above at a house in Avon, CT, where he went to purchase "a load" of Gus Stickley furniture. The copper was sitting on a sideboard, and he bought it along with the furniture.

The prices seem similar to what other contemporary coppersmiths charge. But, like I said, if I had that kind of money, I would put it into vintage copper, not repro.

One last thing... if anyone in the Northeast wants to see these pieces, they were at the Stratford Antique Center in Stratford, CT when last seen a few weeks ago. Click for info: http://www.stratfordantique.com/