So you’ve bought a fake… Item Number: 100001 $0.00

DescriptionIf you collect ancient art, it is going to happen. You can’t escape it, you can’t avoid it, it will happen. You will buy a fake. And if you are a prolific collector, you are probably going to buy several.

As dealers of ancient art, we are often given access to some of our clients’ fabulous collections. We have seen pieces, even entire collections, that would make most museums green with envy… but we’ve also seen the flip side. We have gone into clients’ homes and seen fake after fake, displayed like they were the most valuable possessions on earth – and to the client, they were – until they discover the awful truth. It’s not easy to tell a client that their multi-million dollar collection of art is comprised of almost worthless fakes.

There are things you, the collector, can do to mitigate the risk. The first thing you might want to ask yourself is how much risk are you willing to take? This sounds almost like a conversation you would have with your financial advisor or stock broker. In the world of ancient art, there are sources one can buy from that offer a “higher return,” but often at a higher risk. A prime example of this is eBay. If you buy off eBay and you cannot look at a photo and immediately KNOW the piece is right or wrong, you are taking a risk. It does not matter if the person has perfect feedback, you are taking a risk. Your potential upside may be huge, but you are taking a huge risk. Conversely, if you buy from an established auction house like Christies or Sotheby’s and the piece is ex-Museum of Fine Art, Boston, your risk is almost zero.

Here is a quick list of risky sources for purchasing fake ancient art:

- eBay,
- “friend” of a friend
- Anyone who seeks you out (vs. you seeking them out)
- Non-specialist auctions
- Brand-new companies

If you are like most collectors (and dealers), you buy from a number of sources - most trusted, maybe a few not so much - how do you protect yourself? Here is a list of how I would approach collecting if I were starting from scratch:

1) Do a bit of research on your dealer(s). Ask them a few very important questions – What are the terms of their guarantee of authenticity? How long of a guarantee? What proof must you present if you suspect a piece is fake? In what form will they provide a refund – cash, store credit/exchange? Is the guarantee in contract form? If presented in a COA, are all the terms spelled out?

2) Will the dealer allow you to see an example before a purchase? How long have they been in business, and what are their primary sources? How do they authenticate their items?

3) When you purchase an item(s), make sure your receipt indicates any pertinent information that will affect the value of an item – culture, age, condition, and provenance. Attic pottery is more valuable than Apulian, but can sometimes look similar. Condition plays a huge role in an objects value!

4) Keep a complete record of every transaction. Include photograph, dealer info, date, receipt, condition.

5) Develop a relationship with a dealer you trust who can “vet” your collection periodically. If you buy a really good fake, odds are you are not going to be the one to uncover it. You should show your collection to a knowledgeable source so that they can help you find those duds and get them returned.

6) If you discover you may have a piece that is not authentic, or even if the piece is poorly or inaccurately described, you will probably want to return it. In most cases this does not need to be a stressful, confrontational event. Pull all your information together and draft a letter/email giving the reasons you feel your item is misattributed and include all the information related to when you purchased it, and at what price. Most dealers are only interested in making you happy. We all make mistakes (Jerry Eisenberg of Royal Athena is convinced the famed Roman Portland Vase at the British Museum is not ancient) and most of us feel embarrassed when we do. Our #1 priority is to take care of our clients.

7) In those rare cases where a dealer is not willing to help, pull out the big guns. Have a lawyer send a strong letter demanding a refund. If that does not work, and if the dollar amount is large, a civil suit may be necessary.

8) And above all, no matter how great the temptation, practice safe collecting!

Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear from you!
Bob Dodge