Beyond Forgery. Collecting, Authentication and Protection of Cultural Heritage

For centuries, art forgery has threatened our cultural heritage’s intangible values and undermined fundamental concepts like public trust, ownership, knowledge, and identity. Moreover, honest copies and digital technologies like virtual or augmented reality nuance the uniqueness on which the protection of cultural objects is based. Beyond of Forgery. Collecting, Authentication and Protection of Cultural Heritage explores the blurry notions of original, fake, and copy, the stimuli to forgery and its implications, and the authentication techniques from a historical perspective and within a broader discourse about securing cultural heritage. The book includes some reflections on forgery and art collecting and the role of museums in representing authenticity. The relationship between forgery and illicit trade in cultural goods is also addressed. Gathering contributions by scholars in the fields of archaeology, art history, history, anthropology, philosophy, museum studies, legal studies, psychology, and natural science, this book, therefore, offers a wide perspective on some of the most significant threats and challenges our cultural heritage has posed and poses to us. Acknowledging such threats and challenges is crucial for understanding, protecting, and valorizing our cultural heritage.