Despite the fact that the artifacts are imitations, their potential market value is estimated at 200 million euros.
The Italian police broke up a European network of counterfeiters who specialized in selling imitations of works by artists such as Andy Warhol, Pablo Picasso and Banksy. TASR informs according to the Tuesday report of the DPA agency.
Arrest warrants were issued for 38 suspects in Italy, Spain and Belgium. They face charges of handling stolen goods, forgery and selling artwork.
Among the more than 2,100 artifacts seized are a number of sculptures, Italy’s Carabinieri police unit said.
Despite the fact that the artifacts are imitations, their potential market value is estimated at 200 million euros, DPA writes.
According to the Italian police, the counterfeiters focused mainly on the work of Warhol and the British artist Banksy.
Police tracked down the network after more than 200 artefacts, including a copy of the Caryatid by Italian sculptor and painter Amedeo Modigliani, were seized from one of the merchants in the Italian city of Pisa. The trail subsequently led them to other forgery workshops, adds DPA.
Among the confiscated works are imitations of the works of Gustav Klimt, Marc Chagall, Claude Monet, Paul Klee, Vincent van Gogh and Salvador Dalí.
Counterfeiters also entered into agreements with auction houses and some of the imitations were sold through these halls, the Carabinieri added.
