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Fakes and forgeries


Goldsmiths' Hall

How to spot faked or forged antique silver hallmarks

16 April 2024

Delegates attending the latest Goldsmiths’ Company London Assay Office seminar on April 12 were warned to be alert for faked objects purporting to be by the preeminent 18th century Huguenot silversmith Paul de Lamerie (1688-1751).

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Seminar returns after ‘surge in de Lamerie fakes’

11 March 2024

A fakes and forgeries seminar at Goldsmiths’ Hall is returning after a five-year hiatus as concerns emerge of a rise in Paul de Lamerie forgeries.

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Call for new rules on ‘cold cast bronzes’

11 March 2024

A surge in websites selling ‘cold-cast bronzes’ – sometimes passing them off as original metal alloy sculptures – has led to calls for tighter rules to distinguish them from genuine works.

Most Read

Top stories this week including a warning for Cornishware collectors

26 November 2023

The most viewed stories on this website over the last week included a conviction for ‘fake’ Cornishware jars.

Cornishware jars

Warning for Cornishware collectors following ‘fakes’ convictions

20 November 2023

Vintage Cornishware collectors and dealers have been warned to be aware of possible fakes on the market following the conviction of a couple for fraud.

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Trading Standards prosecute couple who faked Cornishware pottery

16 November 2023

Two people selling faked Cornishware pottery have received suspended sentences and ordered to pay £80,000.

Jennifer Mass

Scientists and art specialists propose standards for the art and antiques trade

15 November 2022

A group of scientists and art specialists met to discuss proposals to create industry-wide standards for condition reports and the verification of art and antiques.

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ATG letter: My concern over increasing number of suffragette fakes

06 December 2021

In 2013 Antiques Trade Gazette was kind enough to print a letter from me in which I protested the practice of dealers and auctioneers of labelling as ‘suffragette’ any piece of jewellery that combined stones approximating to suffragette colours of purple, white and green.

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Master forger Mark Hofmann's infamous work comes to auction

31 May 2021

The 'Oath of a Freeman', one of the most infamous forgeries in US history, heads to auction at Heritage this month. It comes for sale from Justin Schiller, the antiquarian bookseller who in 1985 attempted to broker its sale for $1.5m.

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Legal wrangle into disputed Frans Hals painting continues as investment firm wins right to appeal

17 June 2020

The legal dispute over a Frans Hals (1582-1666) painting sold via Sotheby’s by Old Master picture dealer Mark Weiss and Fairlight Art Ventures is set to reach the Court of Appeal.

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Raid on eBay seller's 'fake medal factory' run from garden shed leaves market reeling

15 June 2020

A trading standards investigation has unearthed a ‘medal factory’ in Derbyshire, sparking the fear that thousands of fake military awards and badges could be in circulation.

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Fake Sumerian cuneiform tablets seized at airport

11 May 2020

A group of smuggled Mesopotamian ‘antiquities’ destined for collectors in the UK was discovered to be fake and seized by Border Force.

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Fake Mesopotamian antiquities seized at Heathrow airport with help of Border Force officers and the British Museum

05 May 2020

A group of Mesopotamian antiquities destined for collectors in the UK was discovered to be fake and seized in an operation by Border Force and the British Museum.

Hals

Sotheby’s wins court case over a disputed €10m ‘Frans Hals’ painting

11 December 2019

Auction house Sotheby’s has won its case against Fairlight Art Ventures, the former business partner of Old Master picture dealer Mark Weiss, over a Frans Hals (1582-1666) painting that the auction house now deems is a fake.

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Sotheby’s and Old Master dealer reach out of court settlement over disputed Frans Hals painting

02 April 2019

Old Master picture dealer Mark Weiss has agreed an out-of-court settlement with Sotheby’s in the case of a $10m painting the auction house believed to be a forgery.

Rare whisky testing

Third of rare Scotch vintage whisky tested found to be fake

20 December 2018

A sample of vintage bottles of Scotch whisky tested in a Scottish laboratory has been found to be fake.

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Asian Art in London to overhaul awards after authenticity of 'best object' winner questioned

19 November 2018

The organisers of Asian Art in London are to abandon the event’s ‘best objects’ award after doubt was cast on the authenticity of one of this year’s winners. The Danish auctioneer which won the award however is standing by the Yuan attribution for the flask after conducting a scientific test.

Michael Ellis

Minister promises 'balance' in the application of ivory regulations

04 September 2018

The UK government will ensure that ivory regulations are balanced and with "appropriate exemptions", the new Minister for Arts, Heritage and Tourism told an art market conference this week.

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Appliance of science: New hallmarks scheme for contemporary bronzes launched to fight fakes

16 April 2018

To address the increasing number of fakes, The Design and Artists Copyright Society (DACS) has launched a new digital ‘hallmark’ for editioned bronzes.

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Core allegations dropped in Russian ‘fakes’ case

19 March 2018

An investigation in Germany into an Israeli art dealer, charged with being the ringleader of an international fraud ring, has concluded after the two central allegations against him were dropped.