6. The Tiara of Saitaphernes
Well apparently the phrase “any publicity is good publicity” was true for Israel Rouchomovsky, the man behind this next forgery.
In 1896, Russian antiquities dealers were offering quite an accessory to the Louvre Museum in Paris. They were holding onto a gold tiara, said to be a true masterpiece of the Hellenistic period. It was assumed to have been a gift from Olbia, an ancient Greek city, to a Scythian king named Saitaphernes. Enamored with the find, the Louvre handed out $50,000 to the dealers, prepared to put their new purchase on display.
However, they were soon to be disappointed. Scholars began questioning the authenticity of the tiara, but the museum refuted any and all accusations that the tiara was a forgery. Eventually, Louvre officials’ wisened up and discovered that the tiara likely had been manufactured by a goldsmith from Odessa, Ukraine. This goldsmith was Israel Rouchomovsky.
Still questioning the piece, Louvre officials brought Rouchomovsky to Paris in 1903 to see if he could replicate a portion of the tiara. Claiming he had no idea that the Russian dealers were looking to commit fraud, Rouchomovsky refused to become a suspect. And his efforts only served to put more attention on the scandal, which later ended up boosting his career and inciting fans to request his work.