Trial Begins for Art Experts Accused in €4.5M Versailles Furniture Forgery Scandal

Bill Pallot and Bruno Desnoues face charges for producing fake 18th-century furniture sold as national treasures, deceiving cultural institutions and collectors.

• The trial of Bill Pallot, Bruno Desnoues, and the Kraemer Gallery opened in Pontoise, focusing on their roles in a forgery scheme involving counterfeit 18th-century furniture.
• The operation, which ran from 2007 to 2015, caused €4.5 million in damages and included pieces sold to the Palace of Versailles and wealthy collectors, including a Qatari prince.
• The counterfeit furniture, falsely attributed to historical figures like Marie Antoinette, was so convincing that it passed authenticity checks by top auction houses and was classified as national treasures.
• The scandal prompted a government audit of Versailles's acquisitions policy, exposing systemic failings in verifying authenticity and leading to policy reforms.
• Defendants have admitted to creating the forgeries, initially as a challenge but later for financial gain, while the Kraemer Gallery denies wrongdoing, claiming it was also deceived.

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