SCAMS AND FAKES

Fernando K · 6th January 2014, 09:38 PM

SCAMS and FAKES

Hello everyone

According to some literature (an article by Stefan Steimann) located in Argentina stand out as counterfeiters Spitzer, a French antiquarian, born in Vienna, whose works are in the Wallace collection at the British Museum and the Waddesdon collection, and a locksmith named Konrad, of Dresden, whose works are in the Dresden Historical Museum and acquired by. U.S. millionaire Hearst

Anyone have knowledge, or of any known copy?

Affectionately. Fernando K

Matchlock · 6th January 2014, 10:49 PM

Hi Fernando K,

The fact is well known that Frédéric Spitzer was one of the most prolific and reckless forgers of his time, which was France in the 1860's to 1880's.
He especially altered deliberately highly-decorated firearms of the 16th and 17th c., many of which are - among others - in the Wallace Collection London. All his 'alterations' were done so cruelly that I cannot refrain from calling him a madman.
E.g., he put fake pommels on the stocks of wheellock pistols and barrels from late-18th c. guns in stocks of the late 16th c.!

The pistol posted below is inv.no. A1135 in the Wallace Colln: it is fully authentic and dated 1554 - but the lemon butt was 'associated' from a completely different long wheellock pistol of ca. 1610 (!). Originally that grip would have terminated in either a fishtail or dagger-style shape!!!

Spitzer did this for pure fun, just because he could and nobody stopped him perpetrating such cultural outrage: he ruined genuine weapons without any need - imagine! Weaponry as a scholarship did virtually not yet exist at that time; not a single one of his contemporaries was able tell wrong from right.

And: oh yeah, I photographed some of his evil deeds, on display at the British Museum as well!

The original catalogs of his weapons and art 'collection' number to several (5 or 7) really huge folio volumes (45 cm high), all highly sought after by bibliophiles and immensely expensive (thousands of euro).

Btw, William Randolph Hearst, the newspaper zsar, did the same thing in the US at the time of the Great Depression. He employed an army of forgers to realize his fantasies - and they too went right on to the big museums.
The road goes on forever and the party never ends.

Anton Konrad, whose name you mentioned, is known to have faked a great number of fine swords, mostly after originals in the Dresden Armory. He was a contemporary of Hearst's, and his 'products' too are, among others, in the Royal Armouries Leeds and the Wallace Colln. today. He sold many of his forgeries via the auction house Kahlert, who also regularly ordered pieces). Hans Schedelmann, a reputed arms 'scholar' and - Salzburg (Austria

!) - 'professor' and 'man of integrity' (although he was hardly able to write one single grammatically correct sentence and had never been inside a university building) wrote very benevolent 'expertises' on Konrad's fakes for the auction house Galerie Fischer at Lucerne, Switzerland.
They were all just part of the Konrad system.
After the bubble bursted, Schedelmann of course tried to disassociate of everything - and was successful.
The road goes on forever ...

One of the most prolific forgers of all times has been active for more than 40 years now as a well known arms dealer in Swabia, Germany. Everybody here knows his name but Herr F. still carries on. About 50 per cent of everything he sells are cruel fakes. At the same time he is a publicly appointed and sworn expert!!! What cruel irony.
The road goes on forever ...

Best,
Michael

Fernando K · 6th January 2014, 11:25 PM

Matchlock Estimate:

One thing is the word, and quite another picture. This helps to understand the work of Spitzer. thank you very much

Affectionately. Fernando K

Matchlock · 6th January 2014, 11:43 PM

As always, it was a pleasure to be of some assistance, Fernando!

Best,
Michael

Battara · 7th January 2014, 12:49 AM

I restore things, based on the art, customs, and forms of the period and culture from which them come.

But these forgers are an entirely different matter. Criminal, so criminal. To be kind they should be locked up for their destruction!

Jim McDougall · 7th January 2014, 12:52 AM

Michael you are phenomenal!!!! No matter how esoteric you seem to come up with incredible details on these topics, and this data is fascinating. The only 'reproducer' I know about was Ernst Schmitt in Munich.
This kind of information is so essential to not only those collecting these early weapons, but those studying them so as to better understand the proper identification of tem.

Thank you so much! and I cannot avoid saying again how glad I am you are back with us

All the very best,
Jim

Battara · 7th January 2014, 12:58 AM

I agree with Jim. I had no idea there were fakes in the Wallace Collection and others. Helpful for research, thank you.

6th January 2014, 09:38 PM	#1
Fernando K Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 669	SCAMS AND FAKES SCAMS and FAKES Hello everyone According to some literature (an article by Stefan Steimann) located in Argentina stand out as counterfeiters Spitzer, a French antiquarian, born in Vienna, whose works are in the Wallace collection at the British Museum and the Waddesdon collection, and a locksmith named Konrad, of Dresden, whose works are in the Dresden Historical Museum and acquired by. U.S. millionaire Hearst Anyone have knowledge, or of any known copy? Affectionately. Fernando K

6th January 2014, 10:49 PM	#2
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Hi Fernando K, The fact is well known that Frédéric Spitzer was one of the most prolific and reckless forgers of his time, which was France in the 1860's to 1880's. He especially altered deliberately highly-decorated firearms of the 16th and 17th c., many of which are - among others - in the Wallace Collection London. All his 'alterations' were done so cruelly that I cannot refrain from calling him a madman. E.g., he put fake pommels on the stocks of wheellock pistols and barrels from late-18th c. guns in stocks of the late 16th c.! The pistol posted below is inv.no. A1135 in the Wallace Colln: it is fully authentic and dated 1554 - but the lemon butt was 'associated' from a completely different long wheellock pistol of ca. 1610 (!). Originally that grip would have terminated in either a fishtail or dagger-style shape!!! Spitzer did this for pure fun, just because he could and nobody stopped him perpetrating such cultural outrage: he ruined genuine weapons without any need - imagine! Weaponry as a scholarship did virtually not yet exist at that time; not a single one of his contemporaries was able tell wrong from right. And: oh yeah, I photographed some of his evil deeds, on display at the British Museum as well! The original catalogs of his weapons and art 'collection' number to several (5 or 7) really huge folio volumes (45 cm high), all highly sought after by bibliophiles and immensely expensive (thousands of euro). Btw, William Randolph Hearst, the newspaper zsar, did the same thing in the US at the time of the Great Depression. He employed an army of forgers to realize his fantasies - and they too went right on to the big museums. The road goes on forever and the party never ends. Anton Konrad, whose name you mentioned, is known to have faked a great number of fine swords, mostly after originals in the Dresden Armory. He was a contemporary of Hearst's, and his 'products' too are, among others, in the Royal Armouries Leeds and the Wallace Colln. today. He sold many of his forgeries via the auction house Kahlert, who also regularly ordered pieces). Hans Schedelmann, a reputed arms 'scholar' and - Salzburg (Austria !) - 'professor' and 'man of integrity' (although he was hardly able to write one single grammatically correct sentence and had never been inside a university building) wrote very benevolent 'expertises' on Konrad's fakes for the auction house Galerie Fischer at Lucerne, Switzerland. They were all just part of the Konrad system. After the bubble bursted, Schedelmann of course tried to disassociate of everything - and was successful. The road goes on forever ... One of the most prolific forgers of all times has been active for more than 40 years now as a well known arms dealer in Swabia, Germany. Everybody here knows his name but Herr F. still carries on. About 50 per cent of everything he sells are cruel fakes. At the same time he is a publicly appointed and sworn expert!!! What cruel irony. The road goes on forever ... Best, Michael Attached Images Last edited by Matchlock; 7th January 2014 at 02:38 AM.

6th January 2014, 11:25 PM	#3
Fernando K Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 669	Matchlock Estimate: One thing is the word, and quite another picture. This helps to understand the work of Spitzer. thank you very much Affectionately. Fernando K

6th January 2014, 11:43 PM	#4
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	As always, it was a pleasure to be of some assistance, Fernando! Best, Michael

7th January 2014, 12:49 AM	#5
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,226	I restore things, based on the art, customs, and forms of the period and culture from which them come. But these forgers are an entirely different matter. Criminal, so criminal. To be kind they should be locked up for their destruction!

7th January 2014, 12:52 AM	#6
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,953	Michael you are phenomenal!!!! No matter how esoteric you seem to come up with incredible details on these topics, and this data is fascinating. The only 'reproducer' I know about was Ernst Schmitt in Munich. This kind of information is so essential to not only those collecting these early weapons, but those studying them so as to better understand the proper identification of tem. Thank you so much! and I cannot avoid saying again how glad I am you are back with us All the very best, Jim

7th January 2014, 12:58 AM	#7
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,226	I agree with Jim. I had no idea there were fakes in the Wallace Collection and others. Helpful for research, thank you.