So much for the "Art Deco"!

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scandal in France: Six people arrested for making fake famous furniture designers

Clarisa Fabre

"Le Monde», 30.11

25 November in Bordeaux, on suspicion of counterfeiting famous designers 30-50-ies. 20 century - Charlotte Perrian, Jean PROUVEZ, Aleskandra Noll and Pierre Chereau, was arrested thirty maker of Ukrainian origin, and five other people.

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At the interrogation Ukrainian craftsman acknowledged that produced fake furniture to order a "Parisian artist, who died in 2006 and known mainly for its copies of the great masters of the past. After his death, his case was continued to the members of his family: his wife of the artist, his daughter - the lawyer in Bordeaux, his son and son's girlfriend lives. The four on Nov. 27 was charged with criminal conspiracy, counterfeiting and organized fraud.

Son of the artist, who is considered the leader of the gang, is in custody. Ukrainian cabinetmaker until the charges were filed was not - according to Christian de Rokini, deputy prosecutor of Bordeaux, "he was not part of a gang of intruders. On the contrary, it can be considered a victim of exploitation on their part. "

Fraudsters have to give him a job in 2001, when he was in France in an irregular situation. "First, the artist asked him to restore a piece of furniture. Then, convinced that he knows his business, he offered to make copies of designer furniture, also adding her signature famous avtoroy originals "- explained Deputy Prosecutor.

First remelennik worked in a shop in a suburb of Paris Vanves, then transferred to the Gironde region. In 2007, having received a residence permit and finding a permanent job cabinetmaker. he broke all contact with the artist's family.

But it is possible that he'll have to answer the questions of justice: they have not clarified the issue of a series of seized from crooks tables under the signature of Jean PROUVEZ, which are now momeknt undergo an examination.

All the members of the gang was found about sixty counterfeit items: fifteen tables with the signature Perrian, twenty sculptures Noll, several instances of so-called "lamp-nun" Sharo and tables PROUVEZ. The police became interested in fraud in July, after receiving information about their criminal activities, received from one of their relatives.

In the newspaper Sud-West "November 27, published an article alleging that the furniture was sold in the most famous galleries in France and the United States, as well as" put up for tender in the Drouot and have Tazhana ".. Deputy Prosecutor has so far refused to name specific names: "We have evidence of bank transfers made by some auctioneers, but we are not sure that there was a conspiracy. Between 2005 and 2007. fraudsters were 1 125 000 euros of profit. There is evidence that one of the copies of the table PROUVEZ was sold in the U.S. for 160 000 dollars.

Now investigators are trying to locate all the criminal network: to find merchants who sold counterfeit, deceived customers and etc. On the issues that we addressed in the auction house Tazhan, irritated by the fact that the name Tazhana appeared in the press in such an unpleasant context, two weeks before the prestigious auction of furniture style "Art Deco", a member of the directorate said: "We work directly with the successor Perrian, PROUVEZ and Noll. We never had any difficulties in authenticating items. We were unable to interview representatives of the prestigious Parisian galleries, famous for its collections and Perrian PROUVEZ, such as a gallery and a gallery of Patrick Segena "Downtown" Francois Lyaffanura - all of our numerous attempts to enter in contact with them were unsuccessful.

Expert creativity Jean PROUVEZ Sylvie Tetzhen agreed to answer our questions. Mistress of the auction house in the town of Nancy, where he was PROUVEZ studio, told me that she bought some items from the Parisian artist and his son, explaining that she was completely unaware that these items may be counterfeit: "In the years 2004-2006. I have two or three times an auction. Subjects were very well made, but very quickly I began to have doubts. Too many of them deliver the goods, signed Perrian and Noll. However, I was quite confident of the authenticity of furniture PROUVEZ. I'll be shocked if it turns out that this is also fakes! ". Even the old employees PROUVEZ who regularly come to her, never expressed any doubts. But perhaps, "this Ukrainian maker - a true genius" - added Ms. Tetzhen ...