New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-10-17
ART VALUATIONS RAISED
Tl DECEIVE PURCHASERS
Customs Men AIIege Government
Seal on Invoice Is Used as
Guarantee OF Worth.
ADVANCE COST MANIFOLD
Objects Also Shipped Piecemeal
as Damaged, a Device for
Entering Rich Works at
Low Valuations.

s-=-,'.-ad in b. some art and antique
ssale-s il connection with their importa-
inns have been brought 70 light as re-
svlf OF the investg cation Of the customs
authorities into the charges against Du-
-sen Brothers Of undertaking. goods
brought = this country for themselves
enc rich art patrons Il was stated
yesterday that some dealers have en-
-i-elv reversed their tactics in placing
--slues upon their goods for entries.
Instead Of placing a lower value than
-hev have actually paid for the goods
that are exempt from duty. some dealers
s-e said 10 pl4Ce much exaggerated
figure OF their consular invoices and
entries Thus, objects worth $1,000 or
5000 a. the outside are entered as
worth S25.Oa0. $50. 0e0 and in. some cases
even as much as $4,000.
The invoice is handed N 10 the ar-
rraisers. where il is stamped with the
government seal. although there is no
dutv n -. The government seal is
--en exhibited To prospective purchasers
as guarantee Of the value OF the goods,
and customers are thus charged from
ff1eer 70 twenty-five times as much as
the goods would bring If brought in
under normal conditions
Purchasers Protest; Then Pay.
When questioned on this subject yes
tsrday George X. Wanmake-. Appraiser
n the Por. said that II was exceedingly
difficult for the examiners in his depart
nenr 70 TX value on artistic objects
We can estimate the value Of The
goods brought iu-whether furniture.
Jewels or other objects Of art-ar their
intrinsic value. We have not always
means Al olr disposal 10 determine the
sentimental value. however he said
While Re are rot bound ny the sworn
declaration ~ the importer as 10 the
cost ne must in such cases be guided
---~nnv u Some extent
T. has happened on many occasions
-iEr- say IN most Of the importations
nj objects ~ artistic value by private
purchasers in Eur0pe-that I have de-
Jared objects entered as more than one
hundred wears old subject 70 duty though
rre law exempts art objects Of that age
IN sEch cases the importers have come
down % the Appraisers Stores indig-
reut'v protesting against the imposition
~ tne duty. When they have seen the
articles. however, they have IN almost
every instance admitted the correctness
20 taa finding o, the examiners They
declare that they have seen in the deal
srs stores il Europe genuine antiques.
hut the article shipped 10 them Is entire
different from that purchased
0t course. IN al cases. whether Of
-Hde-va .uation OF Generalization. the i'm
ro-re-s who swear 10 the entry price ar
liable 10 prosecution. but the task Of tn
srrrs l~ers is made difficult by the lack
~ knowledge Of the sentimental consid-
s-suans which add 10 or detract from
re value set upon the objects. whether
pictures or antiques. by the shippers"
Rags said To Be Undervslued.
Information has reached the customs
authorities that among the goods held
10 At present consigned to DUveen
Brothers are ten rugs which are said TO
be entered al from 81 ,oeo 10 S2.oo0 each.
bu which in reality are valued by the
dealers at from S1o.o00 To $4,000
apiece Before these goods are released
INQUIRIES VIII be made 10 find out =
possible AZ the point Of shipment what
me value Of the rugs really was. as il is
clearly much larger than such goods
would bring without particular associa-
tons
Another piece q Information communi-
cz1ed 70 them. the authorities say, was
thst among the private correspondence
~ one OF the Duveen firm would be
found copies Of letters sent 10 the rep
resertstfves Of the firm abroad, giving
detailed instruction concerning the eX-
ten- N which goods should be under
valued Tor entry Al the port The au-
tno-i,ies have not yet announced
vhetber This information was verified by
ne documents seized at the time the
PREMISES al No. 3G2 Fifth avenue We're
rsided.
The three Chinese vases which are lIle
basis Of the plant upon Whlch mem
J and BENJAMIN DUveen were aEres'eo
are stated 10 have been a shIpiii'i4~'
through The Duveens, from De flhla'
til celebrated Oriental dealer IN PARIS.
20 NeH York merchant who Is noIeu
ar fancier- They are known as FAMINE
ferte Of the KEN Lung period, ana are
sad o. he worth 2sVeo while they were
ctered al Sl.10T-
Objects Shipped Piecenaesi.
According 10 information now IN pos
session of The authorities. one Of the de-