Sotheby's responds to US$8.3m scroll 'fake' claims

International auction house Sotheby's insisted that an ancient work of Chinese calligraphy sold at auction in September was a genuine piece by Su Shi, a famous Chinese poet of the Song Dynasty (AD960-1279).

The statement came in response to accusations from three researchers from the Shanghai Museum who said that the calligraphic work was a forgery from the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

Sotheby.s said its team of experts had read through the detailed research findings by the researchers published in the China Cultural Relics News newspaper on Wednesday and would make a detailed response within 10 days.

Earlier, on December 21, the three made general claims about the work.s authenticity in an article published in a local newspaper.

Sotheby said it was shocked that three experts from a world-class museum would make public comments on the commercial movement of artworks purchased by a private collector.

Famed Shanghai art collector Liu Yiqian bought the piece attributed to Su Shi for more than 50 million yuan (US$8.3 million) at an auction in New York.

Researchers Shan Guolin, Zhong Yinlan and Ling Lizhong, said the calligraphy scroll, titled .Gongfutie,. was a counterfeit produced using a technique from the late Qing Dynasty.

Most of Su Shi.s authentic works have been collected by museums worldwide, and if the rare calligraphic work is proved authentic, then the price should not be regarded as too high, said Ma Weidu, another collector.

The three researchers. claims sparked a debate, with some saying it is the norm for experts from public museums not to get involved in appraisals of works sold in the market.

However, the researchers also have their supporters.

Art critic Gu Cunyan said that as state-owned museums are financed by taxpayers. money, they .should speak their opinions whenever the bottom line in the arts sector is tested..

The case has rung warning bells for the increasing number of private art collectors who seek to bring back the country.s .lost treasures. from overseas, experts said.

Many Chinese entrepreneurs and art collectors buy the country.s lost cultural relics at auctions by Sotheby.s and its rival Christie.s.

.In many cases, Chinese buyers pay inflated prices,. said one art collector, who didn.t want to be named. .There are even fake ones among some so-called national treasures with price tags of over 100 million yuan..