Trugare, or one case from the history of the forgery-making

The paper is a part of the author’s larger research on history restoration Limoges painted enamels in end 19th and beginning 20th century Paris. It treats about well-documented case French restorer merchant Simon-Emérique Pierrat, accused 1858 for selling false to members Rothschild family. transcript this process sheds light methods approaches used by some XIXth forgers field applied arts. Due high rank his deceived clients, Pierra’s was widely known contemporaries, himself considered as faker par excellence. To succeed business, acquire produced contemporaries resell them collectors. make look ancient, add dirt fire it object, so that looks like time. He also sophisticated narrative more credibility merchandise. However, sometimes objects talked themselves. That why, presence decorative elements imitating antique vases discovered during Herculaneum excavations Renaissance enamel allowed an expert expose fake at collection thus put Pierrat’s fraudulent business. method trucage (fr. Process or set processes used, arts fine arts, fakes, counterfeits antiques - Larousse) largely discussed denounced, but also, though rarely, seen natural result collectors’ blind chase over authentic As question “honest” imitations rises museum curators all world, such testimonies could be valuable piste follow better understanding art market context its actors.