When you search for Eames or Le Corbusier on price comparison sites, offers range from rock-bottom to triple the price. Great deal or fake? It's no simple deduction—even seemingly reliable French-hosted sites pricing pieces above €500 often sell counterfeits. Under French law, these are illegal replicas, and buyers risk theoretical penalties like prison time.
Designer furniture poses unique challenges compared to luxury brands. Shoppers must track down official licensees authorized for reproductions. For instance, Cassina holds exclusive rights to Le Corbusier pieces. Yet this key info is scattered, with no centralized directory— a common issue across designers.
Manufacturers add complexity. UK laws permit many designer copies, but they turn counterfeit upon entering France. Italy's Steelform.com, with its physical showroom, openly labels its items as counterfeits while stressing superior craftsmanship.
Use common sense: Beware prices 50-80% cheaper, "inspired by" claims, or .co.uk sites. If customs seizes and destroys your order, prison is unlikely—but so is any refund.
