I am usually quite slow to imply evil intent. However, having spent many years on the periphery of the high-end art and antiques market I can say without a doub

I am usually quite slow to imply evil intent. However, having spent many years on the periphery of the high-end art and antiques market I can say without a doubt it is one of the most corrupt and opaque markets you can imagine. It is a chain of concealed influence from top to bottom. Imagine, if you will, a kind of mega-rich suckers list being worked by a pyramid of scammers: auction houses, super-dealers, agents, professional intermediaries, "experts" with no credentials etc etc...The bait is always the same: high society connections. Usually you will find that the scammers are charming, well connected persons who exist in a kind of demi-monde - friends in high and low places.