Museum makes feature of fakes

Source: Agencies  |   2008-7-18  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

SOME museums might not want to talk about fake artworks in their collections. The Brooklyn Museum in New York isn't one of them.

The museum is planning an exhibit for next year of its collection of 30 Coptic sculptures, a third of which have been determined to be fake.

The sculptures were exhibited years ago and proved popular with the public, said Edna Russmann, a curator of Egyptian, Classical and Ancient Middle Eastern Art at the museum.

But questions have been raised for years about whether all the work was genuine. Testing was done, and experts who were brought in ultimately confirmed that some pieces were frauds. The real Coptic art in the museum was produced by early Christians in and around Egypt from the fifth to seventh centuries. Some of the fraudulent art was bought in the 20th century.

The museum decided to turn the situation into a teaching opportunity.

"It seemed to me a sensible thing would be to put them all on view, parted as good and bad," Russmann said.

By showing fakes along with the real works, the museum hopes visitors will gain an understanding into how museums authenticate collections and gain a better appreciation of real Coptic art.

"It really helps you see the real thing in a clearer light," said Kevin Stayton, chief curator and vice director for curatorial affairs at the museum. "It's an exercise in looking."

Gary Vikan, a scholar who first wrote about the forgeries more than 30 years ago, agreed. "I think it's a great idea," said Vikan, director of the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore. "It's a very good way to train the eye."