Major Forgery Network Uncovered: Over 2,100 Fake Artworks Seized
Italian authorities have successfully dismantled a large European art forgery network, recovering over 2,100 counterfeit artworks attributed to some of the most celebrated names in modern and contemporary art. Artists including Banksy, Andy Warhol, Salvador Dalí, and Pablo Picasso were among those whose works were replicated and sold illegally in a scam worth an estimated €200 million (£165 million).
The operation, dubbed “Operation Cariatide,” began in March last year after 200 contemporary artworks were seized from a businessman in Pisa. Among the collection was a copy of Caryatid by Amedeo Modigliani, which ultimately lent its name to the investigation. This discovery led investigators to a network of forgers working across Italy, Spain, and Belgium, with 38 arrests made as part of the operation.
Authorities uncovered six forgery workshops, three of which were located in Italy, and the rest spread across Europe. These workshops housed over 1,000 fake artworks, 450 counterfeit certificates, and 50 forged stamps designed to falsely authenticate the counterfeit pieces.
Auction houses played a key role in the network. The forgers partnered with auctioneers to sell contemporary works at suspiciously low prices, duping unsuspecting buyers. They even went so far as to organise two Banksy exhibitions in Mestre near Venice and Cortona in Tuscany, complete with published catalogues to lend credibility to the events.
According to Teresa Angela Camelio, chief prosecutor of Pisa, this operation represents a major step in protecting Banksy’s legacy. “The activity carried out made it possible to shed light on a transnational system of forgers interconnected with compliant auction houses,” she said. Without the investigation, many of these fakes could have entered the market at prices similar to authentic works, significantly distorting the global auction market.
The recovered pieces include counterfeits of works by celebrated artists such as Claude Monet, Vincent van Gogh, Joan Miró, and Jackson Pollock. In addition to replicating famous pieces, the forgers also created entirely new compositions attributed to Banksy, such as a road sign featuring his iconic flower thrower image, stamped with the label “Dismaland,” referencing Banksy’s 2015 satirical theme park in Somerset.
Banksy expert Stefano Antonelli, who was present at the press conference, noted that this operation was a landmark in uncovering European art forgery networks. He added that many of the seized works carried labels tied to Dismaland, making them particularly convincing to collectors.
A majority of the recovered pieces are now being exhibited at the Palazzo Toscanelli in Pisa, giving visitors a chance to see the extent of the forgery operation.
According to the Interpol Works of Art Database, global art crime is a growing concern, with forged works threatening the integrity of the international art market.
For more insights into art crimes and cultural heritage, visit EyeOnLondon for the latest updates and features.
