Prosecutors settle case with auction house over false origin records for artifacts

Dutch prosecutors have reached a settlement with an auction house in Oost-Nederland and its owner over suspected fraud involving archaeological artifacts and falsified provenance records, the Public Prosecution Service (OM) said. Under the agreement, the auction house must pay 50,000 euros to the Dutch state, and the owner must complete 120 hours of community service.

In 2022, police seized 20 archaeological objects from North Africa and the Middle East at the auction house. Four of the objects were likely forgeries or copies. For 12 other objects considered authentic, the provenance documentation contained false information.

The documentation stated the artifacts came from the collection of a deceased woman. Experts from the Allard Pierson Museum in Amsterdam conducted an investigation and discovered that this woman was entirely fictitious.

The OM said it is unclear what role the auction house played in producing the provenance documentation. However, prosecutors stated that the auction house operator is responsible for the accuracy of the catalog information and must conduct some level of verification of such claims.

Prosecutors suspect both the auction house and its owner of forgery in writing. The OM said it agreed to a settlement at the defense lawyer's request, avoiding a court case.

Due to traceability concerns, the OM spokesperson stated that they will not disclose the specific objects. It is known that the consignors and sellers involved in the auction were traders and private individuals from the United Kingdom.