New-York tribune., 1908-01-16
BIG TRADE IN FAKE ART.
T. f. EIzceU Tells of Some Frauds
Practised on Collectors.

F. Edwin Elwell. formerly curator of ancient and
modern sculptures at the Metropolitan Museum.
told yesterday at his studio in Weehawken some
thing about the effort being made to protect col
lectors from those who make il business TO pass
off fake paintings as the work OF old and modern
artists. He said that in one season in this city
nearly 100000 had been returned by art dealers
their patrons rather than face the courts for de-
cisions the genuineness OF works they bad
sold as originals. He said:
At the time interest was revived in Egyptian art
IN Europe some years ago when the travel set in
toward Egypt I'm the winter, certain enterprising
great sale OF Egyptian grave ornaments in blue
Il was discovered that they could be produced at
ness thar no diff7cuitT was expeTienced in disnos
ing OF large quantities of these limitations TO
In Italy it has since been found that the repro
queuoh @ OF antlque naGoie statlary is also a very
doubtless not yet forgotten the statue of ,Aphro-
dite shown at the National Arts Club some time
ego, which excellent example of this form
of reproduction. This particular work was manu-
Ter il The error had not been made in mutilat-
ing il TO some extent and Disgusting the use Of
aIine dyes for the discoloration.
In this country the taking of pictures has been
a poor artist. Of Boston who was hired by one Of
these fake picture manufacturers TO reproduce some
hun7or ne innbedded one-cent piece in the Inner
shabbiy treated by the swinder who manufactured
accused the man Of being a fraud There was
great excitement among the buyers who asked
TO prove his statement He told them they would
find one-cent piece OF certain date in the upper
left hand corner OF that beautiful Renlbr7
It proved 10 be true, and the sWindler was forced
TO leave Boston hurriedly.
New York has not been fortunate as Boston
some day il will be led 10 believe that a great
deal Of art IL buys original is nothing but
clever copies have had actual knowledge o
this. a number of occasions I
by the late Genral d Cesnoa, director OF the Met
ropolitan Museum Of Art, 10 an expert In
one case Greek bass-relief offered for o
the museum found it was slightly smaller than
the original. and by examining It with magrify-
bic file
To the unaccustoned eye this bsss-reief of
Achilles Returning from the Wars n
derful find" It was cracked. badly stained, and
needless say that while at the museum 1t
was not purchased
There is no doubt that at the present time there
places where antiques in painting. sculpture.
factured by the wholesale for art dealers pretty
much all over the United States. II is difficult to
say whether this is a very grave crime, in view
of the fact that all the work initiated has
TniSrepresenting their origin. but there can be
crime in the sale of the themselves.
Oleonargarine looks and Sometimes tastes like
real butter and crime is committed until 1t is
creative artist is in attempting TO prevent the
sale imitation antique for original but
10 do away with the imitation of really
fine works Of There is higher
sincere compliment to a great master than that
anv one should be willing n pay well for good
COPY but the location of the original, its owner
and fts history should be brought under the avs
Of protect its citizens from q form
Of swindling that has become very daring and
to those who beginning 10 appre-
ciate the value of art in their lives