I need an esoteric term for counterfeit

Factual Questions
1

(I hope this is the right board to post this at…)

So I’m taking a fiction writing class. There was a 10-page story due a week ago; I’m just sitting down to write it now. (Maybe I should be over in the slacker thread in IMHO :wink: ) In my story there is an art gallery that specializes in aquiring conterfeit paintings. I need some obscure, artsy-sounding name for it and I can’t think of a goddamn thing. I’ll take a mythological reference, cliche, proverb, anything… Dictionary and thesaurus were of no help–is there some resource for looking up this kind of thing? Anyway, any suggestion would be so very, very deeply apprieciated, and I promise I will never, ever, ever come here begging for help on my homework ever again. :slight_smile: :slight_smile: :slight_smile:

2

Hmmm. Ersatz (fake) is one word that comes to mind… How about Doppelganger (sp?) which means “double” iirc… I tried thinking of something from mythos, and I came up with an idea, but I brain-farted it out. I’ll post again if I remember.

3

Entry Word: counterfeit
Function: noun
Text: Synonyms IMPOSTURE, deceit, deception, fake, fraud, gyp, hoax, humbug, phony, sell
Related Word copy, facsimile, reproduction; dummy, simulacrum

Entry Word: counterfeit
Function: adjective
Text: being an imitation intended to mislead or deceive <counterfeit money> <counterfeit sympathy>
Synonyms bogus, brummagem, fake, false, phony, pinchbeck, pseudo, sham, snide, spurious; SPURIOUS 3
Related Word feigned, pretended, simulated; deceptive, delusive, delusory, misleading; fraudulent
Contrasted Words authentic, veritable; actual, real, true; unquestionable, valid
Antonyms bona fide, genuine

Entry Word: counterfeit
Function: verb
Text: Synonyms ASSUME 4, act, affect, bluff, fake, feign, pretend, put on, sham, simulate
Related Word ape, copy, imitate, mimic

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Excerpted from the online Merriam Webster Dictionary site.
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Brummagem is the most esoteric of the lot.

It refers to a bastard form of pronounciation of the English city “Birmingham”. It specifically refers to sham coins or plated metals. (The Concise Oxford Dictionary)

If you make your art expert a Brit then the term will have more validity in its use. Pinchbeck was the only other word that was as good. It too, is of English origin and used to be a reference to a watchmaker. If your expert is also versed in metal jewelery it will help substantiate the use of such obscure terms.

Pinchbeck = Goldlike alloy of copper and zinc used in cheap jewelery.

4

Go to an on-line Thesaurus. :wally

5

The art world loves to use the term homage, pronounced oh-MAHJ, for derivative works.

6

It’s your story, make up a term, particularly if the character is from or has dealings with another country; something foreign-sounding but meaningless should work. Think “A Clockwork Orange”.

e.g. fauxbreugel (okay, it’s been a long day at work, I can’t think of anything better.)

Setting it off in italics helps to highlight the term, and make sure to include the word in context of a sentence or conversation.

7

Thank you, that was one of the word I was trying to think of. I knew I knew it but I couldn’t remember it.

ah, well, silly me, I’ve been using the paper versions… bookmarks dictionary.com and thesaurus.com

flips open dictionary. b… br… YES!! Perfect! Thank you Zenster! Brummagem Art Galleries it is. In gratitude I offer you my first-born son. Or I’ll work your name into the story at some point. One or the other. :wink:

8

No applause, just throw money!

Glad you like the submissions.

How you’re going to work “Zenster” into the story has piqued my curiosity.

Let me know in an email.

All the best!

9

You might also work the name Eric Hebborn into your story. Anyone familiar with art forgery would recognize his name.

10

What about faux?

(fake, in french)

11

LOL, I saw either an infomercial or a segment on a home shopping channel that was selling ‘Chinese Faux Pearls’. They NEVER said faux without the preceding ‘Chinese’, I am certain they were hoping to trick ignorant people into thinking ‘Fo’ was some Chinese word for a variety of pearl.