ZALCE FORGERIES
There is no doubt that the works of Maestro Zalce are being forged and that "his" signature is on art that was not produced by him.
I am not qualified to determine whether an artwork is or is not an authentic Zalce, nor do I personally know of anyone who is definitely qualified. Maestro Zalce is no longer authenticating his art. I would therefore advise potential purchasers to only purchase Zalce art if they can be very certain that the work was indeed produced by Maestro Zalce.
This beautiful engraving, called "Vendedora en Cuclillas," was produced
by Zalce in 1975. I purchased two such works from Maestro Zalce,
and one time while visiting him I asked if he would "colorize"
one of the works. Here you can see Maestro Zalce with his concept of how the work should look with
color.
In a Mexico City antique market, this (on right) is now being sold.
It IS SIGNED and sales people will tell you that it was done by Maestro Zalce in 1993. I will not say here that it is definitely not an
authentic Zalce, but I feel certain that there is nothing valid indicating that it IS his work.
What do YOU think? Purchase with
care!
In his studio Maestro Zalce once let me photograph
an original and a forgery of one of his tapistries, shown here. I didn't know which was
the forgery until he explained several differences, one of which was the very superior material
from which his tapistries are made, especially when compaired to the much lower weave quality and lower weight of the forgery (on the left).
Here is an oil painting, one of several I have seen, with an "Alfredo Zalce" signature (doesn't show well here, on right)
. I have sent this picture of the
work to several friends who know the work of Maestro Zalce very well, and none think that this
was really done by him. Some art that I have seen, signed with his signature, looks very much like
his work, and may or may not be his work, but again, purchase with care, i.e. ask for papers of authentication, know and have reason to trust the gallery or person from whom you purchase,
learn to identify Maestro Zalce's technique and style...
SOME OF HIS MOLDS WERE NOT DESTROYED AND REPRODUCTIONS OF HIS STATUES AND EMPUJADOS ARE NOW APPEARING ON THE ART MARKET.
Aquí hay una estatua "del Maestro Zalce" en venta en "e-Bay." Mira a su precio y da un vistaso a la replica (arriba). Crea usted que esta oferta es una obra original del Maestro Zalce?
Besides that, they copied their information about Maestro Zalce from "zalce.com".
Another forgery at an antique market, and beautifully framed.
Maestro Zalce produced 17 historic engravings to be included in a large folder of engravings from Mexican engravers called "450 Years of Struggle--Homage to the People of Mexico." Some of these now have Maestro Zalce's "signature" AND ARE NUMBERED! I have three sets that Maestro Zalce signed--with photos of him signing--these are quite likely the only sets he really signed--and the numbering of these would be out of the question.
This is a batik which Maestro Zalce didn't like, but rather than washing it and starting over, he gave away. It is (was) on sale in Mexico City at the above mentioned exhibitionfor $10,000 dollars as "oil on cloth." It will fade if left in bright light, is improperly framed for a batik, and most of it will wash away in water.
One Saturday I went to the antique/art/forgery market in the Zona Rosa between Hamburgo and Londres and saw, in an old frame, a small signed version of "Maguey de Topilejo" on parchment paper The original may be seen on the internet or in most books about Maestro O'Higgins.
I asked the sales person in charge if it was original or not. He told me he didn't know anything about it but that it was signed by Pablo O'Higgins. I told him that if it were the original used for the 1950 litho, it was worth a lot.
I took the art out of the frame to study. It appeared to be an original ink drawing. I compared it with the artwork which I have in several books, and each and every line was exactly like the original. I thought I might have discovered the original work from which the "Maguey de Topilejo" lithos had been produced.
I returned to the art/antique market the following week, and the man had another second signed exact copy of the original 1950 litho by O'Higgins...but EXACT, and also apparently hand drawn in ink and signed.
BUY WITH GREAT CARE--Even from galleries, E-Bay, "Mercado Libre," Zalce exhibitions, etc.!
Samuel Houston