"Is a certificate of authenticity for an artwork, painting, watercolor, print, sculpture, necessary?" "Is a C.O.A. indisputable? " I am working on art authentication research for more than 35 years. The recognized authority for the authentication of a Picasso has changed three times the last 30 years. -Comite Picasso until 1993. -Maya Picasso ( who is, in my opinion, the best expert for Picasso) -Administration Picasso and Claude Picasso When I started work on Picasso authentications in the 90's it was " Comite Picasso, Paris" who was the authority until 1993. That year the "Comite Picasso" was dissolved, supposedly because of a disagreement between Maya and Claude, both children from Pablo Picasso from different beds. The rumor says that some experts from this " Comite Picasso" received amounts of money to agree on the authentication of a painting; none of it is proven, so, until today, it is considered as simple gossip. After the dissolution of the "Picasso comite," Maya Picasso was considered the solely recognized authenticator. Usually, people accept her certificate as being sufficient to warrant the sale of a painting. Major auctioneers, however, were still looking to have the certificate from both of them Maya and Claude Picasso. Requesting a second opinion seems to be an excellent choice made by the auctioneers since Maya Picasso today is no longer the solely recognized authenticator. This situation brings up many interrogations for collectors who have a certificate of authentication made by Maya Picasso only. Indeed today, it is the Picasso Administration who gives his agreement for the authenticity of a painting. Five heirs of Pablo Picasso compose this Picasso Administration, but Maya Picasso is not included. As for every important master, if you want to sell a painting, you will need to have a certificate of authenticity not older than three months. Andre Lhote, an important French master with results up to $ 2.5 M in an auction, is a perfect example of this situation. When heir and recognized sole authenticator expert Jean Bouin died, the new sole recognized expert Mrs. Berman-Martin refused several artworks authenticated by Jean Gouin, under the motive that the last had made too many blunders. Today you have many lawsuits going on, understandable since collectors bought in auction or in private paintings having the Jean Gouin certificate, which was the only one recognized as valid. The contestations are also active for other important masters. Pierre Auguste Renoir, with results in an auction as high as $ 71 Million + premium for " Le Moulin de la Galette," is an example of this. For decades, the ex sole recognized authenticator for Renoir, Francois Daulte, at the end of his life labeled authentic paintings by Renoir that, after Daulte's dead, were contested immediately by Dauberville; for the authenticity! It turned out that Daulte family was involved with the Wildenstein family in the hijack of 3 Manet paintings with a priceless value and 1 Corot painting worth well over multiple M $ today, at the cost of Yves Rouart, legal heir of Berthe Morisot the famous painter who owned these paintings. Also important museum curators are making enormous mistakes. to be continued
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