When a long-lost bronze of Alexander the Great suddenly turns up in Greece, experts are suspicious. This DW documentary follows archaeologist Stephan Lehmann as he follows the trail of the art forgers.
Stephan Lehmann has uncovered around 50 suspected forged artworks to date - in the marketplace, in private collections and even in museums. Now, a large bronze of Alexander the Great has resurfaced in Greece. It was owned by a British art dealer and was handed back to Greece as previously looted art. But Lehmann and other experts say it’s a fake.
Due to his work, archaeologist Stephan Lehmann is not always a popular figure: in the art trade and the museum world, many people prefer to sweep the problem of forgeries under the rug. But one anonymous Swiss collector decided to confront the issue. He sent Lehmann an allegedly ancient but highly dubious bronze depicting Emperor Augustus, which he had purchased for several hundred thousand dollars in New York. Lehmann examined it and had it X-rayed at Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute, using one of the most powerful CT scanners in the world. Testing the material an artwork is made of can not only uncover forgeries; it can also shed light on how forgers go about their work.
This documentary sets out on the trail of art forgers, uncovering a dark and concealed side of the antiquities trade. It reveals just how good forgeries can be. Fakes have even sometimes turned up among supposedly looted works being returned to states as part of the restitution process.
#documentary #dwdocumentary #fake #art #crime
______
DW Documentary gives you knowledge beyond the headlines. Watch top documentaries from German broadcasters and international production companies. Meet intriguing people, travel to distant lands, get a look behind the complexities of daily life and build a deeper understanding of current affairs and global events. Subscribe and explore the world around you with DW Documentary.
Subscribe to:
⮞ DW Documentary (English): [ Ссылка ]
⮞ DW Documental (Spanish): [ Ссылка ]
⮞ DW Documentary وثائقية دي دبليو (Arabic): [ Ссылка ]
⮞ DW Doku (German): [ Ссылка ]
⮞ DW Documentary हिन्दी (Hindi): [ Ссылка ]
For more visit: [ Ссылка ]
Follow DW Documentary on Instagram: [ Ссылка ]
Follow DW Documental on Facebook: [ Ссылка ]
We kindly ask viewers to read and stick to the DW netiquette policy on our channel: [ Ссылка ]
