A silkscreen print said to be an early work by pop art star Andy Warhol has become part of a dispute, after a former employee of the Andy Warhol Museum doubted its authenticity.
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Former director of the museum, Tom Sokolowski, told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "There are early drawings, but none of them look like that or have that subject matter at all. The flag is so crudely done. Warhol never made an image like that."
Col. Kirk's Auction Gallery, which is due to sell the work on September 2, states that the print is unsigned, but has been printed on paper made especially for Warhol. However, auctioneer Sam Berkovitz of Concept Art Gallery, Pittsburgh, says that there was no such paper.
Contrary to the claims made by experts, the auction house believes it may have been a piece that was produced especially for Warhol's close friend and model Nico, aka Christa Paffgen.
The story reaffirms the importance of obtaining guarantees of authenticity when buying collectibles. We offer a lifetime money back guarantee of authenticity on all our stock.
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