The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-10-06
BOGUS BRIC-A-BRAC.
How Relics Are Made and Imposed Upon
CreduIous MilliOnaires.


London Correspondence Of Paris Register
As was going into the Wardour street shop
of an acquaintance, who deals in bric-a brac, |
was passed by a rough looking man, making
rapid exit My friend was in passion. OF
course inquired the reason.
Did you see that wretch leaving as you en-
teredl"
''Yes.'
We'll hes the worst fraud in England in the
matter of curios'
All invents bogus bric-a-brac, does her I
gently inquired,
mo but he's the agent for those who make it
in France and Spain and try to foist it on the
dealers here
How has the man ruf1ed youY" l asked
"Rufied Why this is the second time he has
tried to play bad business on me" said the
dealer. ''You know what a diptych is, don't
your
l confessed did not
well" said the dealer in old trash "a
diptych is q couple of ivory tablets put together,
and they were used by the old Greeks to write
upon"
whats the good of emf"
They're curiosities," replied he. "There are
few in existence. The British Museum has two,
said to have been in use in the time Of Moses;
Did that old guy get one of them! l asked.
why, that old guy, as you call him, is rolling
in money, said the dealer.
"A piece of rare brio brae himself them"
remarked. 'You wouldn't think these things,
human or otherwise, meets in your place.
fortunes--from fools"
THAT man who just left" continued the deal
er, came here a year ago and with great Sc
cresy produced from under his coat what seemed
10 be rare diptych. He wanted E3O0 for it.
I'd have bought it if he had said E500, but f300
was like Offering Buckingham Palace for the
price of villa This made me suspicious.
examined it closely and found it patchwork of
carved ivory but the work was new and conse
quently bogus. L said nothing, but refused to
buy. The man, who is a good actor begged that
1 would not betTay him, saying he had stolen it
from monastery i'll Payia."
you didn't buy"
ono"
'"Then why this RACER
"Well. only two weeks ago I was sent for by a
millionaire to value some property he had bought
in Saxony. l went to his residence and the first
thing my eyes lit on was this bogus diptych,
which my dsreputable visitor had managed to
sell at last, thus cutting into my business"
''Did you betray the fraudl"
No. That would discourage the millionaire
all through and the genuine bric-a-brac trade
would languish,"
"And the fraudulent dealer2
"Ohi had it out with him. He came back
to-day, as you saw. This time he had a twisted
sword, manufactured in Sheffield, which he
wanted to sell as an old Damascus blade, but |
gave him piece of my mind, and he was glad
to skip"
But he'll sell the Damascus blade, 1 sup
poser said /.
"Of course, he will, and to the same million
aire, my old customer, perhaps, and L dare not
show him up. Isn't it an outrageF exclaimed
my furious friend
I did not feel much pity for him, but I heard
enough to entertain a wholesome suspicion of
the integrity and antiquity of old curlos-and
this conversation may be turned to profitable &C
count by Americans who are brie a brac hunting
in Europe at the present moment Verbum sat
sapend.