| Egyptologists and forgers have been battling for over a century: the connoisseur s eye vs. the ingenuity of the "artists" and their impressive creations, some considered authentic for decades before being withdrawn from major collections. A market for Egyptian artifacts has existed since the Phoenicians, but it gathered strength through the nineteenth century when museums sprung up, archaeological digs revealed ever-greater treasures, and tourism flourished, bringing numerous collectors in their wake. Jean-Jacques Fiechter introduces us to a series of colorful individuals and illicit deals set against a backdrop of golden sands and sinister backrooms. He retells the stories of "masterpieces" that found their way into the collections of the Louvre, Metropolitan Museum, and British Museum--and discusses how forgers plied their trade, while also retracing the pioneering inquiries led by the first "fake-busters." |
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