In a landmark ruling, two celebrated French antiques experts, Georges "Bill" Pallot and Bruno Desnoues, have been convicted for their roles in a forgery scheme involving historic chairs that they falsely claimed belonged to French royalty, including the infamous Marie Antoinette. The court in Pontoise, located north of Paris, handed down four-month prison sentences, alongside longer suspended sentences, due to their involvement in the illicit sales. Though they have served their time in pre-trial detention, they now face financial penalties amounting to €200,000 (approximately £169,500) for Pallot and €100,000 for Desnoues.
For nearly a decade, their activities have sparked a comprehensive investigation, shaking the very foundations of the French antiques community, which many believed to be steeped in trust and authenticity. The deception included prized pieces sold to distinguished buyers, such as the Palace of Versailles and members of the Qatari royal family.
During the trial, the prosecution targeted Laurent Kraemer and his Paris gallery, accusing them of negligence for failing to confirm the chairs' authenticity before selling them. However, both Kraemer and his gallery were acquitted, with their legal representatives asserting that they had always maintained their innocence, describing their clients as victims of fraud themselves.
Historically, Pallot had established himself as a leading expert on 18th-century French chairs, boasting a wealth of knowledge from his access to royal inventories, which enabled him to create convincing replicas in collaboration with Desnoues, a recognized craftsman. In a court statement, Pallot remarked, “I was the head and Desnoues was the hands,” illustrating the dynamic partnership that eventually unraveled.
In closing remarks, prosecutor Pascal Rayer emphasized that this case brings to light significant issues within the antique furniture market, highlighting the potential for conflicts of interest when those deemed experts also function as merchants—posing an urgent call for enhanced regulations to ensure fairness and transparency in transactions.
This high-profile trial echoes past controversies in the French antiques world, including cases involving other figures accused of dealing in counterfeit royal furniture. The outcome may pave the way for a broader reassessment of protocols in the auctioning and selling of historical artifacts, as stakeholders call for more stringent oversight in an industry rife with secrecy.
