Fakes and Forgeries

The aim of this course is to provide an understanding of the principles of forensic and scientific investigations into art objects.

On successful completion of the module the student will be able to:

• Describe the basic functioning of the art market.
• Demonstrate a critical awareness of the legal roles of various players and the part that science can play
• Critically assess the various scientific and non-scientific techniques
• Demonstrate an understanding of how sampling strategies are applied and which techniques are of most use
• Be able to apply their knowledge to specific investigation of art objects to successfully come to a reasoned and balanced conclusion.

• Introduction to the art world
• Collectors, auction houses and museums
• Legal aspects of antiquities and antiques
• Object and material types (stone, ceramic, glass, metal, pigment, organics)
• Scientific versus stylistic analysis
• Special considerations of sampling
• Quasi-non destructive and no-destructive techniques
• Relative and absolute dating
• Provenancing.