Swedish auction house buys the fakes back
ARTinvestment.RU   27 ноября 2015

Auction house Bukowskis ("Bukowskis") decided to buy back 6 paintings, recognized fake. One of them at a cost to the auction house in the 5 million Swedish kronor

the Swedish auction house Bukowskis ("Bukowskis") is conducting auctions in the countries of Northern Europe, buys back 6 pictures, which turned out to be fake. One of them sold in Sweden, cost the auction house at 5 million crowns.

To such an unusual auction as a guide Bukowskis came after Finnish police have exposed a criminal group, which specialized in the forgery of works of art. Among the alleged fakes is work, painted by major Russian artists — Repin, Shishkin, Kandinsky, and others.

the Finnish police are continuing their investigation.

Among the works forged by a criminal group, there are paintings signed by names such as Henri Matisse, rené Magritte, and among Finnish artists — Thesleff Ellen (Ellen Thesleff), Reidar Sarestoniemi (Reidar Särestöniemi) and Helene Schjerfbeck (Helen Schjerfbeck).

the Materials of the Finnish police recorded 15 thousands of pages, it is about 150 possible crimes, 49 protocols sent to the Prosecutor. It was questioned 25 people, five of them in detention.

the Total amount of damage caused by a criminal group is estimated at 15 million euros.

Five of the six works acquired now Bukowskis, were sold in Finland, and the sixth — Fernand léger — in Sweden. The most respected in the world of experts and specialists Leger testified the authenticity of this work before the sale. Now, after the recognition of the group in the forgery, the auction Bukowskis bought back the picture for 5 million SEK. In other words, refund the money to whoever bought this work.

"With such scale of falsifications that we have never had to face. That's why we took on more responsibility than usual", — commented Anna-Карин Laurel (Anna-Karin Laurell) from the auction house Bukowskis in an interview with news Agency TT.

In General Bukowskis bought the paintings while in the amount of 7.5 million kroons. Several works are studied by experts and, if they are fake, the auction house may buy them from customers back.

the Material was prepared by Maria Onuchin, AI

Sources: sverigesradio.se, hbl.fi, artinvestment.ru