Insurance Claim Investigation Reveals Stolen Dali Prints Sold By Park West Gallery are "FORGED" and "DEFACED"

The following story is a warning to all prospective buyers and holders of Park West Gallery Dali inventory--and especially those Park West Gallery Dali prints that are purportedly signed by Dali and that source from the Albaretto family and other shady European sources from which Park West Gallery acquired its inventory. Recently, a theft of so-called signed Dali prints was reported. The owner's insurance company was notified of the theft and an insurance claim was filed for the "fair market value." (Isn't this where the bogus, unsupportable, grossly inflated Park West Gallery "replacement value" appraisals come into play?) But after the insurance company conducted an investigation, it turned out that the Dali prints were found to be "forged" and "defaced." Gee, what a surprise! The owner of these worthless, defaced forgeries is now left holding the bag like so many other Park West Gallery victims. Many of these victims have insured these bogus pieces and are paying substantial premiums on worthless artwork.

The Albaretto Dali prints are sold exclusively by Park West Gallery aboard cruise ships and at its VIP events. It is great news to know that the property casualty insurance companies are waking up and catching on to the Park West Gallery Dali scam and are vigorously investigating. We have recently learned that insurers are now no longer accepting Park West Gallery appraisals as evidence of the value of the artwork they sell. The sad news is the owner of the prints described in this article relied on Park West Gallery's representations and bogus paperwork (COAs and appraisals) that the Dali prints were authentic when in fact the prints were forged. It is unfortunate that the owner is out a great deal of money on the artwork, not to mention insurance premiums paid on the artwork. We have a feeling that another lawsuit against Park West Gallery is in the making as the owner of these now worthless Dali prints most certainly has a claim against Park West Gallery for the sale of forged artwork! Let the buyers and the insurers of fake and counterfeit artwork beware! This is a lesson for all -- that Park West Gallery and its salesmen cannot be trusted and that the Park West Gallery Dali prints are not at all as represented. It is important to note that Park West Gallery specifically excludes on its invoices any verbal representations made by its salesman (aka auctioneers) which translates to: You can't rely on a word our salesmen say or represent to you and that goes for the authenticity and value of what we [Park West Gallery] sell. A great, big red flag if ever there was one!

— by Fine Art Registry®  |  August 2, 2011

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