I often enjoy sharing my opinions about various forms of media devoted to the antiques and collectibles trade. With the rise in popularity of antiques and collectibles as an alternate asset class, along with the adoption of online streaming services, there are several documentaries geared toward specific segments of the trade. During the pandemic, one documentary that caught my eye on Netflix and was “Made You Look: A True Story About Fake Art.” The documentary should be required viewing for anyone attempting to invest in not only art, but also any kind of antique or collectible.
For the uninitiated, investment grade art is one of the most sophisticated markets in the entire antiques and collectibles trade. It is far more sophisticated than coins, which, while sophisticated in their own right, at least have the benefit of established third-party grading. Even antique furniture, glass, and firearms don’t rank as high as art does when it comes to the level of knowledge required to assess priceless works that can be seen selling for millions of dollars. I have repeated this same mantra many times. Art is a market that is quite fickle in nature and also one that is easy for a novice to get taken advantage of. Even experts get it wrong. There is a reason as to why so many top tier art dealers, galleries, and auction houses in the art market are so well respected. That said, sometimes the lure of easy money can mean more than ethics and integrity. We have seen similar stories play out throughout the entire antiques and collectibles trade. The Tiffany vase that may have been repaired without being disclosed, the antique sports card that may have been trimmed down to make it appear better than it really is, or even the vintage action figure whose included accessory is an undisclosed reproduction instead of the real thing. Like it or not, fraud will always rear its ugly head in an unregulated market where money talks and emotions run wild.
Over the years, certain advancements in the trade were created and adopted to help prevent items from being misrepresented, whether intentional or otherwise. The advent of third-party grading was a step in the right direction. It revolutionized a lot of collectible markets like coins, paper money, comic books, trading cards, and even toys. Still, third-party grading has its limits. Many decades after its introduction, only a fraction of markets still utilize it, and this is for good reason. Attempting to grade and encapsulate a Rookwood vase or an antique glass bottle in a sealed plastic case would not be practical and in most cases (pun intended) would be quite laughable. Still, there are other ways to certify something without encasing it in plastic. Art has always been one such example. Having a document signed by a top art expert, auction house, or gallery signifying the provenance of the piece in question can very well be worth its weight in gold. At least, that is what a lot of high profile dealers and collectors were once led to believe, and this leads to why watching “Made You Look: A True Story About Fake Art” is so important.
The documentary takes an inside look at the Knoedler Gallery, an exclusive art gallery in the heart of New York City that was founded in 1846. Up until the closing of the gallery in 2011 amid alleged reports of potential forgeries, the high-end art market respected the Knoedler Gallery as a trusted source. Sadly, as the documentary begins to explore, not all is as it seems, and several high-profile collectors receive an unfortunate lesson on unregulated markets and the consequences of a lack of transparency in the overall market. I do not wish to spoil this documentary, as I truly believe viewing it can, at the very least, make any collector or investor operating in any market within the antiques and collectibles trade a better and more cautious collector.
I do recognize that this documentary will not be for everyone, and I do not expect every person to enjoy it as much as I did. I have mentioned this film in previous writings, and among those who watched it, the reviews were mixed. Most collectors have no interest in art, and that may actually be a good thing. One of the interesting lessons that becomes apparent after watching is just how hard it can be to assess the authenticity of modern or even contemporary art. In certain instances it can be easier to authenticate a piece of art done by Monet or Van Gogh than that of someone like Jackson Pollock. If a viewer has even a passing interest in art, then this chilling lesson becomes even more important. As a huge fan of artists like Andy Warhol and Banksy, I am often terrified at the thought of just how many fakes are floating out there. This is one reason I own very few pieces of art in my personal collections. And even after having the privilege of handling several authenticated Andy Warhol pieces and a few Picasso sketches, I would never consider myself to be anywhere near an expert, let alone someone with an advanced knowledge of art.
I have once said that certain markets in the antiques and collectibles trade should not be speculator friendly. Art is one of those markets, and after watching the documentary, I am confident you will agree with that sentiment. In some of my future articles I will be exploring several other documentaries surrounding the antiques and collectibles trade. I don’t want to give too much away, but prepare to read about the speculative nature of PEZ dispensers and Beanie Babies, as each of these collectibles also got the documentary treatment. It’s a great time to be a collector, that’s for sure!

Shawn Surmick has been an avid collector since the age of 12. He currently resides in his hometown of Boyertown, Pa., and is a passionate collector of antiques and collectibles. His articles focus on various topics affecting the marketplace.