Star antique dealer is a forger

WEALTHY CUSTOMERS SCAMMED: THE STAR ANTIQUE DEALER WAS A FORGER Jean Lupu, star antique dealer in Paris, is on trial from this Monday. He is being prosecuted for deception and money laundering after defrauding dozens of customers. A star antique dealer, specialist in the 18th century, manufactured and sold fake period furniture to his wealthy clients. For decades, Jean Lupu reigned over the entire Parisian microcosm of renowned antique dealers. In his gallery, just opposite the Elysée, the wealthiest customers come to do their shopping, crowned heads of Africa for example, or American stars. Until the fall: Jean Lupu is a forger. Under cover of expertise, he cheated dozens of clients throughout his career with a rather simple technique: tweaking, adding elements, and details to furniture to inflate its value. For example, adding neither seen nor known an ebony plate to a gaming table bought for 46,000 euros at an auction and reselling it for 850,000 euros a few months later . Or, add to a pedestal table a false hallmark of an 18th-century artist.
MANY VERY PRESTIGIOUS CLIENTS DID NOT FILE A COMPLAINT About thirty fake stamps were found in Lupu's workshop. Thanks to exceptional craftsmen who worked for him, the fake period furniture was as beautiful as the real thing. And everyone saw nothing but fire, which made Jean Lupu's business. According to a first estimate, there are more than 12.5 million euros worth of counterfeit goods. But many very prestigious clients did not file a complaint, fearing for their reputation and the resale of their collections. And almost impossible to trace the sales. Because Jean Lupu never filled out his police book. His trial begins on Monday. He is being prosecuted for deception and money laundering since he will also have to explain having concealed more than 7 million euros in Swiss accounts.
Seen in RMC Lucile Pascalet
© Gerard Van Weyenbergh