A Petition to Suppress Fraud
A group of concerned collectors and antiquities dealers has originated an online petition requesting an investigation of allegations that Sadigh Gallery has for 30 years been selling fake artifacts, represented as genuine, to novice collectors who lack the expertise to judge their authenticity.
The petition website is:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/837/263/752/sadigh-gallery-ancient-art-inc-a-matter-of-great-concern-longstanding-art-fraud/
An extensive discussion of this issue and the petition has been carried on in the AncientArtifacts group:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Ancientartifacts
The discussion has now moved to the Unidroit-L group:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Unidroit-L
Readers are invited to join both groups, read their message lists and then decide whether they have an interest in participating in this petition.
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COMMENTARY
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Defrauding of novice collectors by unscrupulous sellers of fakes is a very serious problem in the antiquities trade. It discourages the victims from continuing their interest in collecting, and gives a bad name to honest, reputable dealers and expert collectors who participate in the trade.
This case, which is only one of many similar examples, presents convincing evidence that the only effective approach to preventing novice collectors from being defrauded is criminal prosecution of fraudulent sellers.
A thorough investigation of this gallery by responsible authorities would determine whether Sadigh has actually sold fake antiquities to collectors, with false certificates of authenticity, knowing the items in question to be modern reproductions.
Such an investigation would also identify any other associated sellers of fake artifacts, such as Forumantica, International Reliquary and World Wide Store are alleged to be.
An investigation such as the petition requests is not a "witch hunt" and is not unfair to those being investigated. It is the only responsible and appropriate method for determining whether sellers of objects whose value depends upon authenticity are defrauding the public.
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The petition website is:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/837/263/752/sadigh-gallery-ancient-art-inc-a-matter-of-great-concern-longstanding-art-fraud/
An extensive discussion of this issue and the petition has been carried on in the AncientArtifacts group:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Ancientartifacts
The discussion has now moved to the Unidroit-L group:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Unidroit-L
Readers are invited to join both groups, read their message lists and then decide whether they have an interest in participating in this petition.
****************
COMMENTARY
****************
Defrauding of novice collectors by unscrupulous sellers of fakes is a very serious problem in the antiquities trade. It discourages the victims from continuing their interest in collecting, and gives a bad name to honest, reputable dealers and expert collectors who participate in the trade.
This case, which is only one of many similar examples, presents convincing evidence that the only effective approach to preventing novice collectors from being defrauded is criminal prosecution of fraudulent sellers.
A thorough investigation of this gallery by responsible authorities would determine whether Sadigh has actually sold fake antiquities to collectors, with false certificates of authenticity, knowing the items in question to be modern reproductions.
Such an investigation would also identify any other associated sellers of fake artifacts, such as Forumantica, International Reliquary and World Wide Store are alleged to be.
An investigation such as the petition requests is not a "witch hunt" and is not unfair to those being investigated. It is the only responsible and appropriate method for determining whether sellers of objects whose value depends upon authenticity are defrauding the public.
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posted by Dave Welsh at 4:57 PM
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