Buying or selling a forged Wyeth watercolor can land you in legal hot water.
Even before his death in 2009 at the age of 91, American painter Andrew Wyeth was a victim of art counterfeiters. One well-known fake in circulation since 1998 was openly decried by the artist himself. Four known forgeries have emerged since his death. In early October 2010, the FBI Art Crime Team announced the seizure of a forged 1939 Wyeth painting "Wreck on Doughnut Point," valued at more than $100,000.
Art forgery is a $6-billion industry worldwide, according to the FBI. If you're looking to add an authentic Wyeth print to your collection, follow these steps to better protect yourself against fraud.
Instructions
1. Be wary of Wyeth prints found on Ebay and at small art auctions. Auctions appeal to impulse buying, and often it is difficult or impossible to properly examine a print before placing a bid, especially through grainy photographs on the Internet. Certificates of authenticity cannot always be relied upon unless the auctioneer has a long reputation for selling genuine art prints.
2. Educate yourself on the finer details of Wyeth's work. Examine authentic prints and learn to recognize his hand signature, as well as what his prints look like on the front, back and sides. Don't be fooled by a name or signature that was not actually signed by the artist's own hand. Every authentic Wyeth print is unique -- like a set of fingerprints -- knowing what to look for when analyzing a print is critical.
3. Ask the seller to provide you clear, legible photographs of the print when purchasing long-distance. Expect several photos showing all details: a close-up of the artist's signature, several angles of the frame, as well as the front and back of the print. If a seller will not provide these detailed photographs upon request, this should rightly arouse suspicion.
4. Check with the International Foundation of Art Research if you have suspicions about a particular print. IFAR maintains a stolen art database and publishes alerts of known forgeries. They also offer objective Authentication Research Services on works where the authenticity is in question. IFAR will examine a work for a prospective buyer with the owner's written permission.
5. Contact the Brandywine River Museum in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania. Mary Landa, curator of the Andrew Wyeth Collection, is an authoritative source on Wyeth's work. Her trained, keen eye has spotted Wyeth forgeries in the past.
6. Hire a reputable art appraiser. Although art appraisers are not licensed, they must follow strict ethical guidelines. Members of the American Society of Appraisers and the Appraisers Association of America must be certified. Their work is peer-reviewed and tested. This guarantees that the appraiser knows proper authentication procedures. However, it does not mean an appraiser will not make a mistake -- even the world's best curators, appraisers and art experts have been fooled by skillful forgeries.
7. Know the law before you buy. Statutes vary by country and state, so make sure you understand your potential liability if you purchase or sell a fake Wyeth print. Even if you were unaware of the print being a forgery, you may be held financially responsible for the print's return under certain circumstances.
