Renowned French Art Expert Bill Pallot on Trial for Antique Furniture Forgery:

Bill Pallot, once regarded as the leading expert on 18th-century French chairs and a trusted figure among top collectors, museums, and even the Palace of Versailles, is now on trial in France for orchestrating a high-profile antique furniture forgery scheme. The case, as reported by The New York Times, has sent shockwaves through the global art and antiques community.

Pallot authored the acclaimed The Art of the Chair in 18th Century France and enjoyed elite status in Parisian art circles. But authorities allege he used his expertise not to preserve cultural heritage, but to fabricate it. Among those duped was Prince Abdullah bin Khalifa Al-Thani of Qatar, who purchased allegedly royal furniture pieces attributed to historical figures like Marie Antoinette and Madame du Barry.

The scandal began unraveling when Charles Hooreman, a former student of Pallot and now an antique dealer, raised doubts about a sudden influx of rare furniture on the market. In one notable instance, Hooreman claimed he could detect a fake by licking the wood, revealing the use of melted liquorice—a known technique used by woodworker Bruno Desnoues to simulate age.

The case became public in 2016 when France’s Ministry of Culture began investigating suspicious furniture worth €2.7 million, including two Louis XV chairs acquired by the Palace of Versailles. Experts soon confirmed the items were not authentic. Pallot was arrested later that year and now faces trial alongside Desnoues and four others in Pontoise, near Paris. While Desnoues has admitted to crafting the forgeries, Pallot denies responsibility for the scale of the fraud, though he acknowledges some involvement.

French newspaper Le Monde reported that Pallot previously described the operation as starting from mere curiosity. He and Desnoues initially experimented with forgery while engaged in genuine restoration work, which eventually escalated into a full-fledged fraud ring. In a pre-trial interview with Le Parisien, Pallot expressed a desire to explain his side of the story and asked the court for leniency.

The case has triggered intense scrutiny within the art world, leading to reforms in how France authenticates cultural heritage items. It also highlights how even esteemed institutions and wealthy individuals can fall victim to expertly crafted deception. The trial is expected to continue into next month, and if convicted, Pallot could face several years in prison.