The act of copying has been practised throughout history, sometimes for the purpose of amusement or education, but most often for the purpose of deception and financial gain.
As of Saturday, 19 November, the exhibition is moved to Skidby Mill from Sewerby Hall.
Among the items in ‘Fakes’ are contemporary forgeries of Roman coins, a Victorian ‘Meissen’ tea set, modern copies of prehistoric flint tools, and Louis Vuitton handbags and mugs marked with football club logos.
These objects come from East Riding Museums’ own collections, North Lincolnshire Museums, and Trading Standards (seized in raids).
Said Dr. David Marchant, museums registrar with the council:
“Fakes are all around us, both in a physical and now in a digital sense too. The exhibition looks at some notorious archaeological fakes, such as ‘Piltdown man’, who was thought at one time to be the missing link in human evolution.
“An early 19th century banknote was clearly designed by a local eccentric as a joke. We cover much more recent copies produced as part of organised crime and the art trade. The exhibition also looks at some of the techniques that have been used to try and deceive.”
It will run until Sunday, 14 May, 2023.
On Saturdays and Sundays, Skidby Mill is open from 10.00am to 12.30pm and 1.00pm to 5.00pm, closed for lunch between 12.30pm and 1.00pm, last admissions at 4.15pm. There is a modest admission fee.
