Thursday, March 16, 2006

Fake Picassos, Aisle 6

The New York Times has a story today of a man who spent $40,000 on a Picasso drawing at Costco, complete with a certificate of authenticity signed by Picasso's daughter Maya Widmaier-Picasso -- except she claims the certificate was forged (who authenticates the authentication certificates?). The best part is the buyer, skeptical of Ms. Widmaier-Picasso's recollection, doesn't want to return it. Edward Winkelman thinks Costco ought to insist.