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Determining the authenticity of a work of art is one of the most difficult tasks to accomplish. The art market generally relies upon the opinions of third-party authorities such as scholars, dealers, auction houses, the artists themselves and - phenomenon of the later 20th century - authentication committees. This article discusses the role of authentication committees, how they are formed and the impact of their decisions.
Victor Wiener
In 2007, Christie’s Auctioneers in London sold a fine, early impression of Katsushika Hokusai’s iconic Edo Japan-era woodblock print Gaifu Kaisei (South Wind, Clear Weather), more commonly known as “Red Fuji,” for £288,500 (in excess of $600,000 USD). This world record is even more extraordinary when one considers the humble origins of the ukiyo-e genre. This article explores the history of Japanese ukiyo-e prints and the current market for them.
Shawne MacIntyre, MMSt., ISA AM
Natural pearls are largely beyond the reach of all but collectors and connoisseurs, but at the end of the 19th century an Australian and three Japanese inventors discovered techniques for culturing pearls. This article, the second in a series of three articles about pearls, discusses how cultured pearls are produced, the variety of cultured pearls now available, and how to spot artificially treated ones.
Antoinette Matlins, PG
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