N. ‘Porcelain Manufacture, St. Petersburg’ KORNILOV
19th century, Russia

Plate, porcelain, Russian imperial porcelain manufacture, St. Petersburg, Tsar Nicholas I's period (1825-55). Signed N. Kornilov. The plate was submitted to a major auction house in Stockholm for sale at the autumn "Classic" auction 2010. Estimated price SEK 175,000 to 200,000. The person who submitted the plate was a German citizen of Russian descent. The plate was not sold. Submitter requested that it should be placed on the auction house's online auction, Estimated price SEK 130.000. Police authorities were informed about the object, that it was probably a forgery. The plate were seized and examined by experts showed that the plate was from the period, 1825-55, but that it was painted and signed sometime in the last 10 years. Submitter did not provide any information concerning its purchase except that it came from his brother. Some receipts or history was not found. Submitter opposed the outset that the object would be forfeit. He therefore offered the opportunity to investigate the subject with his own expert. After some time he declined this offer and admitted that the object could be forfeited. The Prosecutor's decision: The object is a forgery and shall be forfeited. Note: Russian cultural objects are very interesting for counterfeiters because they are in great demand. Pricing is often high, particularly from the Russian speculators and availability is limited. Unsigned plates from the time without painted decoration can be bought for around € 200. A genuine painted plate of good quality can cost up to around € 20,000. It then becomes tempting to forge similar items. Recently, similar counterfeits discovered in Paris.