Question for the Fine Art fans out there: What would you do?

[pastimpressions]

A small question for the Fine Art fans out there: the artists, the collectors, the historians et al.

What would you do in this scenario?

In my browsing on eBay I have come across an "original oil painting" for sale.

1. This painting is being sold by a 3rd party merchant

2. This painting is being attributed to a particular artist in the title & body of the listing

3. The seller has paid very particular attention to imply that they cannot guarantee provenance

4.At the same time, the seller is using the artist's name to indicate possible immense value

5.As obscure as this painting may be, I actually have cause to be quite familiar with the artist & the original

     a. This is not the same artist or the original work of that artist

     b. This is obviously a copy to a trained eye that knows the actual original. A decent but very flawed copy.

                ........and I could add more but you get the point.

So, there it is. I don't want to offend or impose on anyone. I respect the platform & the buyers/sellers on it.

Do I message the seller to let them know they are selling a copy with the reasons why I think so?

Do I just mind my own business?

Don't want to try and tell another seller what to do or have my intentions misinterpreted.

Also don't want a buyer thinking they hit the lotto when they just paid a decent price for lovely home decor.

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated & thanks in advance!

[melda58]

I completely understand the urge to inform the seller.  I can only say that from my experience as primarily a bookseller, such attempts are either ignored or met with a "no good deed ever goes unpunished" type of response.   Reporting it to ebay may be an alternative for you but probably won't do any good either.  So many items of all kinds are reproduced, copied, etc these days that it is impossible to police or stop the practice of misrepresentation.   It ultimately is the buyer's responsibility to know what is being purchased.  

Others may have a different opinion.

Rita

[pastimpressions]

Thank you for your thoughtful reply.

It is essentially my thinking as well.

Just undecided as to how to move forward.

Thank you for the food for thought.

[chevymontecarlo88]

This happens all of the time with vintage instruments where many times sellers think they have something that is 100% original or may be a fake. Telling someone their item is a fake typically does not end well.

If you have to, ask them a few questions that would show the piece has issues or is a fake. Let them tell you why it is original instead of you telling them it is not. 

[pastimpressions]

Thank you as well for your thoughtful reply. More food for thought.

Thanks again

[tinsoldierunderground]

@pastimpressions 

I'm with @melda58 here.  Anytime I've tried to 'enlighten' a seller on what they have or don't have as far as authenticity, It's met with anything from sarcasm to outright hostility about 98% of the time.

There are too many ebay sellers delving into art, antique, military relic categories, etc. who seem to know just enough to get themselves in trouble.

[pastimpressions]

Thank you so much for your thoughtful response.

That's now 2 "no" and 1 " no, but if you must tread gingerly"

Ok. Think I see the trend here.

Thanks again for the food for thought.

[lamber9347]

@pastimpressions As a doll collector I run into similar types of listings with incorrect information or listing a "rare" doll that is actually easy to come by, etc. As has been said, advising the seller usually ends up with a sometimes foul reply. Caveat Emptor applies to all online transactions. Buyers need to do their homework themselves. Nothing else you can do except watch from the sidelines. Best of luck to you....

[pastimpressions]

Thanks so much for the response.

More food for thought.

Every reply is essentially the same sage advice. I guess I have my answer.

Thanks again!

[cambriachick]

As a seller, I actually am grateful for valid information.  Once I had listed a pen and ink picture of a building I incorrectly identified.  A lawyer messaged me and gave me the correct information (it was a courthouse in Pasadena).  I corrected my listing and sold it within minutes to a law library in northern CA.

[pickapaper]

It's been a while but I've had a couple of those "self-imposed experts" send me information about one of my items and I knew that what they were telling me was totally incorrect.  So now, I just ignore any info sent to me and I don't bother to send info to anyone I think it might help.  

I would say, since you are obviously not interested in buying the piece, just let it go and move on.  It will be up to anyone who is interested in buying it to do their due diligence before proceeding.