Fakes and Forgeries
The prevalence of fakes and forgeries was of deep concern to Morrisseau, particularly during his later years, and he actively sought to remove these from the marketplace.
In 2005 Morrisseau established the Norval Morrisseau Heritage Society (NMHS). The Society is currently compiling a database of Norval Morrisseau paintings to discredit many prevalent Morrisseau forgeries. This committee, not affiliated with any commercial gallery or art dealer, comprises highly respected members of the academic, legal and Aboriginal communities working on a volunteer basis. It is charged with creating a complete catalogue raisonné of Norval Morrisseau artwork. The NMHS is currently researching Morrisseau art, provenance and materials and techniques in order to complete the task assigned to them by the artist. The NMHS continue their work and were recently in Red Lake, Ontario to research additional information and art by the artist.
The Art Dealers Association of Canada (ADAC) issued the following directive in the Winter 2007 newsletter to their membership: "The Art Dealers Association of Canada is enacting a rule and regulation that no certificates of authenticity will be issued by any members of ADAC with respect to any works or purported works by Norval Morrisseau and that the Norval Morrisseau Heritage Society is the sole authority for the authentication of works by Norval Morrisseau." ADAC also revoked the membership of a dealer who failed to comply with this directive.
Morrisseau also engaged in more direct intervention, identifying fake and forged works available for sale, particularly those purported to be painted by him in the so-called "70s style". He wrote to galleries and made sworn declarations identifying items being sold as "fakes and imitations". More than ten sworn declarations were directed to at least seven dealers and galleries during 1993-2007, requesting that fake and forged works be removed or destroyed. These dealers include the Artworld of Sherway, Gallery Sunami, Maslak McLeod Gallery and Randy Potter Estate Auctions, among others. Sample declarations are reproduced below.
The debate concerning the authenticity of the "70s paintings", commonly found in the marketplace, continues.
Open dialogue about the authenticity of purported Morrisseau works has been suppressed by threats of lawsuit, and so experts are reluctant to come forward. Consumers have few sources of independently verifiable information to make informed purchases. Until the Norval Morrisseau Heritage Society finalizes the catalogue raisonné of Norval Morrisseau artwork, potential buyers should exercise caution.
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