Authorities in Bavaria have seized counterfeit artworks, purportedly by masters such as Picasso, Rembrandt, and Kahlo, in a multinational operation spanning Germany, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. The estimated value of the forgeries is in the millions of euros.
The Bavarian State Criminal Police Office (BLKA) identified the primary suspect as a 77-year-old German national. He, along with ten alleged accomplices, faces charges of conspiracy and fraud in connection with the scheme.
The investigation commenced when the alleged ringleader attempted to sell two paintings attributed to Picasso on the art market, raising suspicions among investigators.
Further, the suspect reportedly sought to sell a forged version of Rembrandt’s famed oil painting, “De Staalmeesters,” for 120 million Swiss francs (£113m), despite the original residing in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.
The BLKA indicated that the counterfeit “De Staalmeesters” – also known as “The Masters of the Clothmakers’ Guild” – was in the possession of an 84-year-old Swiss woman.
The Amberg public prosecutor’s office, in conjunction with the BLKA and Swiss authorities, is currently investigating the woman following the confiscation of the forgery in Switzerland.
According to police statements following an examination by an art expert, “It was, as suspected, a copy and not a lost masterpiece by Rembrandt van Rijn.”
The seizure occurred during coordinated raids conducted across Germany, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein on Wednesday, October 15.
During the searches, law enforcement officials discovered and seized a substantial number of suspected art forgeries, along with “documents, records, mobile phones, storage media and cloud data,” according to the BLKA.
Bavarian police report that the principal suspect attempted to sell an additional 19 counterfeit artworks, falsely attributed to renowned artists, for prices ranging from €400,000 (£349,000) to €14 million (£12.2 million).
These included forgeries of works by Mexican painter Frida Kahlo, Flemish master Peter Paul Rubens, Italian sculptor Amedeo Modigliani, and Spanish artist Joan Miró.
A 74-year-old German man allegedly assisted the primary suspect by “preparing expert reports specifically to confirm the authenticity of the artworks.”
The BLKA stated that both he and the main suspect were apprehended during the raids before being conditionally released.
Authorities have affirmed that the investigation remains ongoing.
“Among other things, all confiscated paintings will be examined in detail by experts and appraisers in the coming weeks,” police officials stated.
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