Trial Begins for Art Experts Accused in €4.5M Versailles Furniture Forgery Scandal

Bill Pallot was passionate about the French chairs of the eighteenth century, fanaticism that turned into a lucrative career as a consultant of museums, galleries, collectors and the Palace of Versailles itself. Thus, he became a personality of Parisian society and a celebrity of the art world, until he was dislocated by an alumni who had become so obsessed with the antiques that he could literally “smelt” a counterfeit. When he was at the top o…

The Frenchman Bill Pallot was considered an expert in 18th century chairs. He taught art history and advised museums, galleries, art collectors and the Palace of Versailles.

Odd Clue in Alleged Art Forgery Scandal: Licorice

Bill Pallot authored the definitive book on the subject of 18th-century French chairs 40 years ago, and in the decade since became an art world celeb who authenticated chairs that were bought by the likes of Versailles and a Qatari prince. On Tuesday, the 61-year-old went on trial near Paris,...

The €4.5 million French chair fraud

A famous French antiques expert, Bill Pallot, has confessed to carrying out a €4.5 million fraud that deceived the most illustrious institutions, including the Palace of Versailles, into purchasing counterfeit 18th-century royal chairs. The revelations came out during a trial at Pontoise criminal court, just outside Paris, where Pallot and five others, including prominent cabinetmaker Bruno… Source

Expert ‘tricked Versailles into paying €840,000 for fake chairs’

Bill Pallot is accused of masterminding a £4.5 million fraud that fooled galleries and a Qatari prince

On the first day of the trial of the forgers, the Pontoise Correctional Court looked at the money of the traffic and the start of the investigation which led to the fall of Bill Pallot. Nicknamed the "Father the Chair", his false furniture of the eighteenth century had deceived all the ex...