French Antiques Experts Sentenced for Versailles Chair Forgery Scheme

In a landmark ruling, French antiques experts Georges "Bill" Pallot and Bruno Desnoues have been sentenced for their roles in a fraud scheme involving the sale of forged chairs that they falsely claimed belonged to French royalty, including Marie Antoinette. Both were sentenced to four months in prison, a term they have already served while awaiting trial, and additionally received suspended sentences along with substantial fines. The outcomes of this nearly decade-long investigation highlight serious lapses in authenticity verification within the antiques market, prompting calls for greater regulation.

On Wednesday, a court in Pontoise, near Paris, found Pallot and Desnoues guilty of selling fakes to notable collectors, including the prestigious Palace of Versailles and members of the Qatari royal family. Pallot, once celebrated as an authority on 18th-century French chairs, expressed discontent with the financial penalties, emphasizing relief that his property would not be seized. Meanwhile, Laurent Kraemer and his gallery, accused of negligence in authenticating the chairs, were acquitted, with their legal team asserting their innocence and victimization by counterfeiters.

Prosecutor Pascal Rayer noted that the case sheds light on the intricacies of the historical furniture market and the potential conflicts of interest when experts also operate as merchants. This ruling not only disrupts the reputation of the individuals involved but also raises important questions about transparency and oversight in the antiques sector. The case forms part of a wider pattern of fraud within the French art market, which includes other notable figures like the late Jean Lupu, who also faced similar allegations of deception before his death this year.