He had a buyer in Switzerland and was waiting for payment: a Salzburger is said to have lured a metal statue from the Kinsky auction house. After the transfer to Switzerland, Franz West’s “Lemure” disappeared without a trace – money did not follow …
He was a gallery owner and art dealer and also collected expensive paintings and rarities himself. So there were contacts with auction houses: a deal with an auction house brought the man from Salzburg to the Vienna court. The 43-year-old delivered artwork to the Kinsky auction house in central Vienna for auctions. Even received an advance of 1.1 million euros. Among them also for one of the four metal sculptures “Lemure” by Franz West.
370,000 euros in damage
The auctions did not go according to plan, the works of art did not yield the desired amounts. The art dealer then took the sale into his own hands, found a supposedly willing buyer in Switzerland and demanded that the “Lemure” be handed over – he even claims to have transferred 30,000 euros to the auction house for this. After the transfer, 340,000 euros would follow. With confirmation.
So the statue was sent to Switzerland. But there was no trace of the money. Just like the “Lemure”. “It remains unclear what exactly happened to the artwork in Switzerland,” said the prosecutor.
“Lemure” is with a Swiss lender
The defendant pleads not guilty. The Swiss buyer should really exist. He would also have made the switch. Only his account was not covered, which is why the auction house never received the payment. The 43-year-old also knew where the “Lemure” was: the artwork was encumbered with a loan from a friend in Switzerland. When the statue arrived, she simply kept it as a refund.
The jury does not find this story credible and therefore sentences the art dealer to 14 months in prison. He must also pay 220,000 euros in damages.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
