As previously reported (see “Star Trek Collector Sues Christie’s, CBS & Paramount Studios for $7 Million Dollars“, “Star Trek Christie’s Lawsuit Story, Fundamentals of Authenticity, & The Mainstream Media“), a collector is suing CBS and Paramount Studios and Christies for $7 million dollars, claiming that the pieces won at the 40 Years of Star Trek: The Collection auction event were “fake” or inauthentic. [Read more…]
Star Trek Christie’s Lawsuit Story, Fundamentals of Authenticity, & The Mainstream Media
As reported here Friday (see “Star Trek Collector Sues Christie’s, CBS & Paramount Studios for $7 Million Dollars“), a collector is suing CBS and Paramount Studios and Christies for $7 million dollars, claiming that the pieces won at the 40 Years of Star Trek: The Collection auction event were “fake” or inauthentic. [Read more…]
The Original BMX Bike from E.T. The Extra Terrestrial
There is an interesting story published in The Sun this week, about the lead singer of Kasabian acquiring (and unfortunately, riding) the original BMX bike used in the Steven Spielberg classic, E.T. The Extra Terrestrial. [Read more…]
Star Trek Collector Sues Christies, CBS & Paramount Studios for $7 Million Dollars
There is a news story in the New York Post about a collector who bid on and won items at the Christie’s “40 Years of Star Trek: The Collection” event in New York held in October 2006.
This was one of the biggest live auction events in the history of the hobby, with extensive press coverage. [Read more…]
Original Prop Related Articles in the L.A. Times by Ron Magid
Writer and original prop collector Ron Magid has authored a number of articles in the L.A. Times, which may be of interest to other hobbyists. These articles are under the “How’d They Do That?” and “Scene Stealer” headings. [Read more…]
In The News: Yesterday’s Hollywood Prop House Public Sale Event
As reported Friday (see “Hollywood Prop Houses To Hold Public Sale Event Tomorrow“), several prop houses held a public sale yesterday in order to generate revenue due to the fallout of the writer’s strike. Auction houses involved included: History for Hire, Global Effects, RC Vintage, Alley Cats, Lennie Marvin Enterprises, 20th Century Props, Jackson Shrub, and The Hand Prop Room. [Read more…]
Art Institute of Chicago & Sculpture Forgery
Though not a story about an original prop from film or television, recent reporting about a sculpture identified as fraud by the Art Institute of Chicago is most definitely a story of interest for fellow hobbyists.
As reported by the Chicago Tribune (below), “The Faun” ceramic sculpture has been on display at the Art Institute of Chicago for the last ten years, believed to be an original 19th Century work of Paul Gauguin. This past week, the museum announced the work is a forgery. The museum bought the piece in 1997 from a dealer in London, who, in turn, purchased the piece from Sotheby’s in 1994.
A family (father, mother, son) named Greenhalgh are believed to have run a very advanced forgery operation for the last 17 years, and were the consignors to Sotheby’s. The son, Shaun, has already been sentenced to over four years in prison following his confession.
I believe stories such as this (as well as the recent “Fraud Trial Features Famous Firearms“) have direct correlations with our own hobby, in which fraud (not to mention theft) is prevalent with much less oversight. Also of interest, in this article, is the reference to Sotheby’s indemnification clause: [Read more…]
Bloomberg “Arnold-Centric” Story on Profiles in History
Bloomberg published a story yesterday covering today and tomorrow’s Profiles in History Hollywood Auction 30 with a short interview with Joe Maddalena. It is interested to see ways in which the mainstream press cover the original prop hobby, such as framing the story around and seeking a reaction from Mr. Schwarzenegger on the offering of props from the Terminator films.
The full story can be read at Bloomberg.com: [Read more…]