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January 9, 2021 - Droog Magazine periodical for investigative journalism

Encore: fakes from Florida

to Hitler Forgery Industry index | 2021 | to Droog Magazine




Introduction | watercolors | sketches |

auction policies | past "Hitler" auctions by AA

It is just doesn't stop: the endless stream of fake Hitler watercolors, drawings and sketches launched by Affiliated Auctions (AA) in Tallahassee (Florida, USA).


Most of the alleged Hitlers offered by this auction house don't even resemble the few thought to be authentic Hitlers. Many of the AA “Hitlers” are accompanied by Certificates of Authenticity (CoA) issued by known CoA swindlers as Frank P. Garo, Hans O.A. Horvath and Stephen R. Pastore. These CoA's are in almost all, if not all, cases clear indications for the fake nature of the works.


In the past three years the auctioneer never replied to our critical questions or paid any attention to our warnings that certain items were fakes. It's obvious he is more than aware that the alleged Hitler works he sells as “authentic” are pure fakes. In our opinion he's therefore a plain fraudster.


On January 27, 2021, AA will auction the following fake Hitlers, with this disclaimer: “
Deemed authentic as per auction terms.” What does that mean? Basically: nothing (see Auction policies).


5 watercolors
- 2243 | 2244 | 2245 | 2246 | 2247  
1 sketch

- 2242


Sources:
https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/96143962_1909-pre-war-adolf-hitler-watercolor-painting
https://www.affiliatedauctions.com/



The "Hitler" watercolors

Click on images to enlarge

Lot 2243: "Pre WWII German Adolf Hitler watercolor painting". Start price $50.




Description by auctioneer:
"
Pre-WWII German Adolf Hitler watercolor painting measures 11 9/16 X 9 1/4 inches. Photo in good overall condition, but missing portion on the lower right corner of painting. Watercolor believed to be painted by Adolf Hitler, his signature is present in the lower left of the painting. Deemed authentic according to terms."


Comment by Droog Magazine: A fake, resembles in nothing the believed to be authentic Hitler watercolors. The low start price of $50 makes it clear that even the auctioneer must be aware of its fake nature.

https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/96143961_pre-wwii-german-adolf-hitler-watercolor-painting


Lot 2244: "1909 Pre War Adolf Hitler watercolor painting". Start price $50.




Description by auctioneer: "Pre WWI Adolf Hitler watercolor painting measures 8 X 11 7/8 inches. Signed "AH." in bottom right corner and is dated "1909" next to signature. Painting believed to be by Adolf Hitler. Two tears on right side, as well as intermittent blotches & blemishes throughout. Deemed authentic according to terms."

Comment by Droog Magazine: A fake, resembles in nothing the believed to be authentic Hitler watercolors. The low start price of $50 makes it clear that even the auctioneer must be aware of its fake nature.


https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/96143962_1909-pre-war-adolf-hitler-watercolor-painting



Lot 2245: "Adolf Hitler original watercolor painting w coa". Start price $750.






Description by auctioneer: "Adolf Hitler (1889 – 30 April 1945) born in Austria, German politician and leader of the Nazi Party. Original pre WWII watercolor painting. Signed, dated 1911 and Authenticated by Frank Garo. Dimensions are 7x5 inches (18x13cm). Very detailed architectural rending, in good condition. This lot has a reserve."

Comment by Droog Magazine: A fake, but this time at least a cityscape is depicted. But the style in which the figures are painted and the hand is definitely not Hitler's, and neither is the signature.


The accompanying Certificate of Authenticity (CoA) is issued on May 10, 2018, by Frank P. Garo, a notorious CoA swindler. He issued many CoAs to fake Hitlers – the mere presence of a Garo CoA is a strong forgery indicator.








Click on image to enlarge.

https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/96143963_adolf-hitler-original-watercolor-painting-w-coa



Lot 2246: "Adolf Hitler original watercolor painting w coa". Start price $750.





Description by auctioneer: "Adolf Hitler (1889 – 30 April 1945) born in Austria, German politician and leader of the Nazi Party. Original pre WWII watercolor painting. Signed, dated 1911 and Authenticated by Frank Garo. Dimensions are 14 1/2 by 10 1/2 inches (37x27cm). This landscape watercolor piece has been mounted to a paperboard and is in good condition. This lot has a reserve."

Comment by Droog Magazine: A pitiful fake, as Hitler never painted landscapes.


The accompanying Certificate of Authenticity (CoA) is issued on March 21, 2018, by Frank P. Garo, a notorious CoA swindler. He issued many CoAs to fake Hitlers – the mere presence of a Garo CoA is a strong forgery indicator.



 




Click on image to enlarge.

https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/96143964_adolf-hitler-original-watercolr-painting-w-coa



Lot 2247: "Adolf Hitler original watercolor painting w coa". Start price $750.




Description by auctioneer: "Adolf Hitler (1889 – 30 April 1945) born in Austria, German politician and leader of the Nazi Party. Original pre WWII watercolor painting. Signed, dated 1911 and Authenticated by Frank Garo. Large landscape painting features an old broken dam in the foreground and a village with a church tower in the distance. Top corners are taped to paperboard, there is a 3cm tear in the lower right corner and in the top center. There is some foxing noted in the sky. Painting is delicate and in overall good condition. This lot has a reserve."

Comment by Droog Magazine: Another pitiful fake, as Hitler never painted landscapes.


The accompanying Certificate of Authenticity (CoA) is issued on March 21, 2018, by Frank P. Garo, a notorious CoA swindler. He issued many CoAs to fake Hitlers – the mere presence of a Garo CoA is a strong forgery indicator.

The "OTTO OFFICE" stamp print hasn't been seen before on Garo's CoAs.





Click on image to enlarge.

https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/96143965_adolf-hitler-original-watercolor-painting-w-coa


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The "Hitler" sketch

Lot 2242: "Adolf Hitler Vienna Opers house figure study". Start price $750.

 



Description by auctioneer: "Vienna Opera House Figure Study in red pencil as identified in "The Propagander a Biographical Timeline of the Infamous Adolf Hitler" by Walter Johann von Lopp. Also similar to other 1912 drawings in Billy Price's "Adolf Hitler the Unknown Artist" pages 135 and 163. Signed with reversed name. Drawing is un-mounted and signed, measuring 42x26cm (16 5/8 x 10 inches) In very good condition. Deemed authentic as per auction terms."

Comment by Droog Magazine: Yet another fake. Hitler lacked the artistic skills to produce a sketch like this.


The handwritten text on the back looks a lot like the handwriting of Konrad Kujau. 

https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/96143960_adolf-hitler-vienna-opers-house-figure-study



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Auction policies


Affiliated Auctions: “Descriptions are not intended to be definitive and should be thought of as opinions on the genuineness, authorship, attribution, provenance, period, culture, source, origin, or condition of the property. No statement made in item leads, descriptions, estimate or during the sale should be considered an assumption of liability or warranty. Lots of items that we deem to be questionable in nature will be described as “unauthenticated”. Usage of this term does not imply anything other than our opinion. Artworks described as a work by a specific artist fall into our highest tier of authenticity, however, no qualified statement about the authorship is strictly implied. Artworks described as “attributed to...” are most likely, in our opinion, a work by the artist but there is less certainty expressed than in the terminology described above. (…) The term signed by and/or dated by the artist is believed to have been inscribed by the artist's hand. The term bears signature implies that the signature may have been added by someone other than the artist. (...) Autographs and autographed items are believed to be authentic unless otherwise stated.”

Source: Terms & conditions. Affiliated Auctions, 2020.

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Affiliated Auctions - in the past


On March 8, 2018 this auction house sold six clearly forged Hitler sketches, as being authentic Hitler artworks. All six were accompanied by fraudulent certificates of authenticity issued by Frank P. Garo. The works were sold for $20,800.

In 'The Tallahassee Auction' (Droog Magazine, 09-03-2018) we reported on this case.  

On April 11, 2019 Affiliated Auctions sold another fake Hitler. This one was sold for $ 3,800. We reported on that case in 'A Hitler' in Florida' (Droog Magazine, 03-04-2019).

On June 25, 2019 Affiliated Auctions sold another fake Hitler. This one was sold for $ 7,400. We reported on that case in 'A Hitler' in Florida (2)' (Droog Magazine, 24-09-2019).

In 2020 and 2021 Affiliated Auctions offered more fakes.

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© Compilation Bart FM Droog, 2021.
Photos courtesy Affiliated Auctions.