Fake acid-stamped
Handel marks on glass shades

We have seen a set of four glass shades with forged acid-stamped Handel markings. Although the shades were indeed old, estimated ca. 1900-1920s, the acid marks were applied within the last 5-10 years.

The forged mark–a large letter H through which the letters A-N-D-E-L run vertically–is a copy of an authentic Handel mark. However, no original Handel products made 1885-1936 were ever marked with an acid stamp. The original vertical H marks were either hand painted or stamped in indelible ink (Figs. 3-4).

Painted vertical H marks rarely appear on any Handel glass shades. Original vertical H hand painted marks were used primarily on china and porcelain. The round vertical H stamp appears on a variety of decorated opal (white) glass bodies; it never was used on shades.

The forger may have gotten the idea of applying the vertical H mark to shades because that mark appears with drawings of shades in Handel reference books (Fig. 7). However, the H mark in those drawings is used only as a company trademark. Apparently the forger never read the text or company history describing how and where the original H mark was applied.

Fig. 1

Fig. 2 Fake Handel acid stamped mark.

Figs. 1-2 This genuinely old, but originally unmarked high quality shade (Fig. 1) with 2¼″ fitter rim is one of a set of four with forged acid-stamped Handel trademarks (Fig. 2). The forged mark appears on the inside of the shade about ½″ in from the outer rim. No art glass shades made by any of the principle American glass makers ca. 1890-1930 are marked on the inside of the shade with acid marks. Handel never used acid stamped marks on any of its products.

Fig. 3 Authentic stamped vertical H mark.

Fig. 4 Authentic Handel hand painted vertical H mark.

Fig. 5 Original Handel fixture with glass shades similar to the shades with forged acid marks. Handel catalog model #5458.

Fig. 6 Another original Handel fixture with glass shades similar to the shades with forged acid marks. Handel catalog model #5208.

Fig. 7 Watercolor illustration for Handel shade #5706 and base. The vertical H mark appears at the upper right hand corner.
Handel Lamps, De Falco, Hibel, Hibel. HD Press, 1986