In a surprising twist in the world of antiques, two men have been implicated in a major fraud involving counterfeit furniture that deceived collectors and institutions, including the Palace of Versailles. This scandal, which emerged in 2016, revolves around a pair of ornate chairs once thought to be original pieces belonging to Marie Antoinette, the last queen of France.
The story began in the early 2010s when these luxurious chairs appeared on the French antiques market. They were believed to be worth millions, and the French government even designated them as "national treasures" in 2013. Versailles expressed interest in purchasing the chairs, but the asking price of €2 million (around £1.67 million) was deemed excessive. Instead, they were sold to Qatari Prince Mohammed bin Hamad Al Thani.
As the years went by, more royal furniture pieces surfaced, including chairs claimed to have belonged to notable figures like Madame du Barry and King Louis XVI’s sister. Most of these items ended up in the Versailles collection, but the legitimacy of these pieces came into question when it was revealed that they were all fakes.
The two key players in this scandal are Georges "Bill" Pallot, a respected antiques expert, and Bruno Desnoues, an accomplished cabinetmaker. Their scheme reportedly began as a light-hearted challenge in 2007, when they successfully replicated a chair from Madame du Barry. Encouraged by their initial success, they continued to create more counterfeit pieces.
Pallot would source inexpensive wood frames from auctions, while Desnoues aged the wood to give it an authentic look. They adorned their creations with gilding and upholstery, even faking the stamps of renowned 18th-century craftsmen. Once completed, Pallot sold the chairs through intermediaries to galleries, which then auctioned them off to unsuspecting buyers.
The fraud came to light when investigators noticed the extravagant lifestyle of a middleman involved in the sales, who was living well beyond his means. This led to a broader investigation that ultimately connected back to Pallot and Desnoues.
In March, both men faced trial for fraud and money laundering. They admitted to their crimes, while Laurent Kraemer, director of Galerie Kraemer, faced charges of gross negligence for selling some of the forged chairs. Despite claiming ignorance of the fraud, prosecutors argued that the gallery should have taken greater care in verifying the authenticity of the items.
The case has raised significant concerns about the art and antiques market, highlighting the need for stricter regulations. Lawyers for Versailles stated that Pallot had exploited his access to historical records to create convincing forgeries, undermining the trust placed in him by prestigious institutions.
As the trial unfolds, it serves as a cautionary tale about the complexities of authenticity in the world of antiques, reminding collectors and galleries alike to exercise vigilance in their acquisitions.