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The French craftsman who made the fakes.
Maybe it’s because of the decades I spent restoring old and antique furniture, so I realize how difficult it can often be to match new parts to old. Or maybe it’s because of the scorn I feel for the appraisers on the Antiques Roadshow and their destructive message that people shouldn’t refinish because it destroys value – the result being that the furniture deteriorates and ceases to exist. Whatever the reason, I love stories of craftsmen being so good that they trick the appraisers. The current issue of Vanity Fair has a great one from France.
Just a warning: the article is quite long.
If for some reason the story doesn’t come up when you click on the link, try searching for these words: Vanity fair sneaky furniture expert.
– Bob Flexner
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