Egyptian Fakes - Masterpieces that Duped the Art World and the Experts Who Uncovered Them

Egyptologists and forgers have been fighting an equally matched battle for over a century: the connoisseur's eye and erudition pitched against the ingenuity and talent of the 'artist'. There are numerous examples of exceptionally beautiful objects that were considered authentic for decades before falling from grace and being withdrawn from museum collections around the world. A market has existed for copies of 'Egyptian' artifacts from as early as the Phoenicians, but the appearance of fakes began with 'souvenirs' made in the eighteenth century for the young aristocrats on their Grand Tour and gathered strength through the nineteenth century and early twentieth century. New museums sprung up, archaeological digs revealed ever-greater treasures, and tourism flourished, bringing numerous collectors, all potential clients for forgers, in their wake.

Author of an extensive scholarly volume on Egyptian fakes, as well as several detective novels, Jean-Jacques Fiechter takes the reader on a fascinating journey of discovery peopled with colourful individuals and illicit deals set against a backdrop of golden sands and sinister backrooms. He also penetrates today's market for Egyptian art and artifacts and demonstrates that, despite scientific progress in the detection of fakes, the forgers' dexterity continues to fool even some of the greatest galleries and auction houses.