Beware of Art Fraud: Why Buying Sculptures Online or Second-Hand Can Be Risky

‍by Lucio Oliveri, Italian Sculptor

The art market, especially online, has expanded strongly in recent years. This has made works more accessible, but it has also opened the door to a significant rise in fraud. Buying sculptures online or second-hand without proper checks can turn into a risky decision, both financially and culturally.

An artist's popularity attracts unauthorised copies

The better known and more appreciated an artist becomes, the more illegal copies of their works enter the market. It is, unfortunately, a common phenomenon: speculators use authentic images, names and titles to sell fakes.

These objects imitate the form of the original works, but lack the quality of the casting, the finish and the artistic value, and above all they have no authenticity whatsoever.
The greatest risk? Paying a substantial sum for an object that has no value at all.

The dangers of buying online or second-hand

Buying a sculpture through unregulated platforms exposes you to several risks:

• No certificate of authenticity: without a document signed by the artist, the work has neither recognition nor market value.
• Industrial reproductions sold as originals: many scams involve offering mass-produced items passed off as unique pieces or artistic bronzes.
• Fakes with original photos: sellers often use images taken from the artist's website, but what reaches the buyer has nothing to do with the real work.
• Unknown condition: the work may be damaged, retouched, poorly restored or not made in the declared material at all.

How to protect your investment

For those who wish to invest in art safely, there are simple, fundamental rules:

1. Buy directly from the artist

This is the strongest guarantee. It means receiving not only the authentic work, but also the correct documentation and certificate and, where possible, learning the story behind its creation.

2. Check authorised dealers

If buying from the artist is not possible, the next step is to verify carefully that the dealer is authorised. Recognised galleries and retailers have:

• official records,
• direct contact with the artist,
• valid, verifiable certificates.

3. Request detailed photos and complete documentation

An authentic work always comes with:

• a numbered, signed certificate of authenticity,
• exact dimensions,
• a full description of the material,
• the edition number (for bronze),
• provenance.

Without these elements, the purchase is not safe.

4. Be wary of prices that are too low

Quality, craftsmanship and noble materials such as bronze have real value. An unreasonably low price is often the clearest sign of fraud.

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