Brief

Our client approached us to identify the provenance of an art piece they had purchased at auction, as they suspected it might have been forged.

Approach

We undertook extensive research of the public records including art registries, auction house data, as well as speaking to well-placed sources in the art world.

Findings

We identified that the piece was likely a forgery. Our findings confirmed that it was one of approximately ten commissioned forgeries that originated from a well-known forger based in Spain. The forgeries were originally commissioned by an organized crime group approximately twenty years prior.

Impact

Our research enabled the client to begin legal proceedings to attempt to recover the funds from the auction house that previously authenticated the piece.