A new exhibition at Sewerby Hall looks at fakes and forgeries and the tricks of the trade.
‘Fakes’ presents some of the most famous, notorious and juiciest stories of all time, in the fields of antiques, furniture, coins, archaeology, and art.
Researched and written by curator Janice Smith and museums registrar Dr David Marchant, the exhibition aims at an adult audience with an interest in how some of the most notorious forgeries of all time were perpetrated.
One story featured is a fraud carried out against the Palace of Versailles, involving fake furniture purporting to be from the reign of Louis XV, and the remarkable manner in which the fraud was exposed.
Closer to home, the exhibition looks at the notorious archaeological forgery of the ‘Piltdown Man’, which may even have involved Sir Arthur Conan Doyle!
Janice Smith said: “It has been absolutely fascinating to research these notorious fakes and unearth some very complex stories behind some intriguing mysteries and tales of deception!”
The exhibition has just opened and will run until 6 November.
It is included in admission prices to the house and gardens. For full details of opening hours, all facilities including the house, the zoo, and the Clock Tower Café, and admission prices, visit www.sewerbyhall.co.uk
