French police dismantled a gang of forgers who were producing and selling faked bronze sculptures on the art market, well-informed sources said on October 3rd 2000. Police investigations were carried out during several months after they were alerted by professionals who had expressed concern regarding the appearance on the art market of numerous bronze sculptures by Rodin, Barye, Frémiet, Bourdelle, Pompon or Bonheur.
Police arrested a 58-year-old collector, in whose house some 150 forgeries were found, his wife, a Parisian antique dealer and a jewellery polisher who had been given the task of chiselling bronze sculptures so as to make them look perfect.
In addition, Police seized 50 fakes, which were being exhibited at the Porte d'Auteuil antique fair in Paris by the antique dealer they arrested. They said that all these pieces were so well done that any specialist would have been at a loss to determine whether they were genuine or not.
The gang carried out its activities during two years producing fakes in a foundry situated in Eastern France and selling them to antique dealers and even at auction.
Police suspected the forgers of having produced these pieces from original moulds as they looked quite deceptive to any specialist's eye.
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