Appraiserof Michael’s 900 million dollar art could be a phony
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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/artinfo/surprise-the-man-behind-t_b_894887.html<br /><br /><br /><br />ARTINFOThe online authority for art news and gallery reviews<br />GET UPDATES FROM ARTINFO<br />Like<br />Man Behind $900 Million Appraisal Of Michael Jackson's Art Might Not Be Credible<br />Posted: 7/11/11 02:43 PM EST<br /><br /><br />Submit this story<br />Earlier , we rounded up the 10 craziest things about the $900 million Michael Jackson art feud. Now, we've got number 11: the "certified art appraiser" quoted about the trove's $900 million valuation is, in fact, not a member of the International Society of Art Appraisers, as Star Magazine reported. "He is not and has never been a member," Sara Porter, ISA's membership and operations coordinator, told ARTINFO.<br /><br /><br />Michael Jackson / Patrick McMullan<br />According to Star, Jackson family lawyers are attempting to block the $87.7 million sale of a collection of Michael Jackson's artwork, which includes sculptures and sketches by the King of Pop himself. The sale is being pushed forward by Brett-Livingston Strong, a friend and artistic mentor to Jackson. While Strong has a letter from Jackson's manager gifting the artwork to the artist, Star reports that legal experts are concerned the document may be a fake.<br /><br />But now, it's not only the letter that may be fraudulent. The tabloid reported that in "an astonishing appraisal of the 182-pieces, obtained exclusively by Star, the 'rare intact major collection' was valued at a whopping $902.52 million." It then quotes Eric Finzi, "a certified member of the International Society of Appraisers": "I do not think we have begun to see the true value of this fine art yet."<br /><br />The later quote also comes from "a document obtained by the magazine." Reading closely, the Star does not explicitly state that this is the same mysterious document containing the $900 million value, though it is heavily implied. There is no ambiguity, however, with regard to Finzi's membership in the ISA: "He is not a member," Porter repeated.<br /><br />What are the consequences for posing as a member of the ISA? According to Porter, as a first step the organization will send a letter from a lawyer demanding the offender cease posing as a certified appraiser. "We will be contacting him," she said of Finzi.<br /><br />-Julia Halperin, ARTINFO<br /> :roll:<br /><br /> <br />Follow ARTINFO on Twitter: www.twitter.com/artinfodotcom<br />
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