The Feud and the Fakes - A Tale of Greed

Why would two estranged brothers fake fantastic antique furniture and sell these pieces to wealthy clients? My personal opinion in a nutshell: greed. When I read The Feud and the Fakes on The New York Times Web site today, I thought how unfortunate it is that the actions of these men could adversely impact the entire high-end antique furniture market.

While this doesn't impact me as an average antiques collector, nor most of my friends and readers for that matter, it is a reminder that we must all protect ourselves from fakes on our own level. I also have to wonder why the talented furniture craftsman who assisted these men didn't try to make a name for himself in his own right rather than serve as an accomplice to dupe so many unsuspecting buyers. A sad story - on many levels - indeed.