On the Authenticity of Two Presumed Paleolithic Female Figurines from the Art Market
In March 2022, an auction house in Zurich sold two female figurines made from mammoth ivory, along with other prehistoric artefacts. This is a rare occurrence because the scarcity and value of Paleolithic figurines have limited their presence in the international art market. Researchers from the Arc...
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MDPI AG
2025-03-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2571-9408/8/3/104 |
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| author | Sibylle Wolf Rainer-Maria Weiss Patrick Schmidt Flavia Venditti |
| author_facet | Sibylle Wolf Rainer-Maria Weiss Patrick Schmidt Flavia Venditti |
| author_sort | Sibylle Wolf |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In March 2022, an auction house in Zurich sold two female figurines made from mammoth ivory, along with other prehistoric artefacts. This is a rare occurrence because the scarcity and value of Paleolithic figurines have limited their presence in the international art market. Researchers from the Archaeological Museum Hamburg and the University of Tübingen subsequently undertook in situ and non-destructive investigations to illuminate the authenticity of the two figurines. We conducted a comprehensive analytical study that included detailed microscopic optical observations and spectroscopic investigations. This methodological approach, combined with a thorough comparison to contemporary ivory figurine replicas, proved effective and clearly demonstrated that the specimens were forgeries. Research efforts of this kind are crucial, as they significantly help reduce the spread of intentional fakes posing as genuine artefacts in the art market. By doing so, we foster collaboration between academic institutions and the art market to preserve and protect the integrity and value of authentic archaeological and cultural heritage. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-47b4e94db16548c79fec4094b8e0515d |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2571-9408 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Heritage |
| spelling | doaj-art-47b4e94db16548c79fec4094b8e0515d2025-08-20T03:43:11ZengMDPI AGHeritage2571-94082025-03-018310410.3390/heritage8030104On the Authenticity of Two Presumed Paleolithic Female Figurines from the Art MarketSibylle Wolf0Rainer-Maria Weiss1Patrick Schmidt2Flavia Venditti3Senckenberg Centre for Human Evolution and Palaeoenvironment at the University of Tübingen, 72074 Tübingen, GermanyArchäologisches Museum Hamburg und Stadtmuseum Harburg, 21073 Hamburg, GermanyWorking Group of Early Prehistory and Quaternary Ecology, Department of Geosciences, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, 72070 Tübingen, GermanyWorking Group of Early Prehistory and Quaternary Ecology, Department of Geosciences, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, 72070 Tübingen, GermanyIn March 2022, an auction house in Zurich sold two female figurines made from mammoth ivory, along with other prehistoric artefacts. This is a rare occurrence because the scarcity and value of Paleolithic figurines have limited their presence in the international art market. Researchers from the Archaeological Museum Hamburg and the University of Tübingen subsequently undertook in situ and non-destructive investigations to illuminate the authenticity of the two figurines. We conducted a comprehensive analytical study that included detailed microscopic optical observations and spectroscopic investigations. This methodological approach, combined with a thorough comparison to contemporary ivory figurine replicas, proved effective and clearly demonstrated that the specimens were forgeries. Research efforts of this kind are crucial, as they significantly help reduce the spread of intentional fakes posing as genuine artefacts in the art market. By doing so, we foster collaboration between academic institutions and the art market to preserve and protect the integrity and value of authentic archaeological and cultural heritage.https://www.mdpi.com/2571-9408/8/3/104Paleolithic female figurinesspectroscopytrace analysisforgeriesauction house |
| spellingShingle | Sibylle Wolf Rainer-Maria Weiss Patrick Schmidt Flavia Venditti On the Authenticity of Two Presumed Paleolithic Female Figurines from the Art Market Heritage Paleolithic female figurines spectroscopy trace analysis forgeries auction house |
| title | On the Authenticity of Two Presumed Paleolithic Female Figurines from the Art Market |
| title_full | On the Authenticity of Two Presumed Paleolithic Female Figurines from the Art Market |
| title_fullStr | On the Authenticity of Two Presumed Paleolithic Female Figurines from the Art Market |
| title_full_unstemmed | On the Authenticity of Two Presumed Paleolithic Female Figurines from the Art Market |
| title_short | On the Authenticity of Two Presumed Paleolithic Female Figurines from the Art Market |
| title_sort | on the authenticity of two presumed paleolithic female figurines from the art market |
| topic | Paleolithic female figurines spectroscopy trace analysis forgeries auction house |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2571-9408/8/3/104 |
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