The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-12-22

schemes for rigging the American
market increases all the while, One Par,
isiNn dealer the magnitude OF whose op.
emtlons is internationally famous, en-.
lploys a number Of expert copyists who
imitate well vouehed for works which he
buys at auction, The original Ia kept In
the owners private collection, perhaps
to hc sold quietly years aftcrwad, while
tho copy is put into one OF his cShibl.
lions that are sent over to the United
States, Tho circumstances Of tho pur,
chase of the masterpiece at u famous
sale ave correctly given to tho American
publici the only "out" Ia that the
masterpiece Itself never comes to these
shores,
One feature Of the dispersal of bogus
works of art to which attention will un,
ioubIedly be called in any campaign of
education Is the conduct OF tho big auc,
tions that are held In various cities.
These take place annually with lust
about the same Accomplishments. Every
appearance Of respectability Is scrupu.
lously kept up, The exhibition Il pro,
claimed IN well printed circulars an,
nouncing that a distinguished art dealer
of Paris or London has, acquired In his
European travels II number Of choice
works which are 10 bc shown 10 tae
public OF The city, They are on frce
exhibition for three or four days aud
then arr auetloned oil for what they
viii bring In such collections a mum.
Der OF really good things are usually |
included, 70 these the dealer points
with pride As having been acquired from
well known and reputable art houses
oi New York OF London, They are sold
along with the other works, but the
wise ones note that the obscure persons
by whom they are bought are not iamil,
lar AS residents of the city, The same
genuine picture appears In various
titles at auction after auction while
works that are nnqdestionably fmuln,
rnt are dispersed among American
homes
Another very common iesice for get
Ing rid OF bogus art Is through the sale
II estates, A wealthy man dies leaving
collection OF pictures, bric. c.a.brac and
urnitnre. gathered through many years
II changing taste, Il contains prob.
!b'y some things that are good. some
'cry bad When the whole collection
$ put up at auction lot OF other works
'hIch the original collector never saw
n his life are mixed in and raiIleI oil
o the public (which attaches no signiti,
anec whatever to phrase with addi.
ions inserted somewhere In incon.
p'euous type In the catalogue. That
hrase covers the law and at the same
lmc enables the purveyor of the spuri.
US to get rid OF large consignment Of {
ikes.
Still another way by which fraudulent
.ofks are somtimes dispersed IL by
Herring them as collateral, An alleged, d
'Ilector. In league with the ar. dealer a
lake the acquaintance Of men OF
calth. Presently the "eonnoisseuro {
nnounces that he has got into financial
iIieulties and that he must raise money
= hts collection of pictures which con.
'lns such and such masterpieces and
hich Is worth. say, 100000. From
'me OF his new friends he secures
of perhaps $4,000. :
nter on the note is not met, AMI the
nder finds himself In possession Of
'ry large assembagc OF pictures which
genuine would make him one OF the
aiding art collectors Of the world. ;,
'metimes, as in one recent case, the
'comodating one discovers that he q
IS been victimized, There probably :,
we been instances, however, when the r
w collector has died, happy in the n
IVY OF his friends and neighbors, who n
gard him as second only to j. Pcir. ~
mt Morgan in his understanding OF 8
/ values. y
The only safe rule, say those who II
we inaugurated this campaign OF edu. lu
tion. is for the American business "
m not to buy pictures or other works :.
art on his. own responsibility. In 4
ost cities there are artists who would Y
glad to be consulted by any intend. n
2 purchasers. y
How much can be accomplished by
campaign to call attention to the n,
rils of the would be art collector IL
III doubtful. The pitfalls are many o,
itation Of every known species Of art
5 become so expert that even good In
lges are sometimes deceived The