FORGERY
AUTHENTIC
AUCTION RESULT
As seen in the comparison of the two paintings above, one particularly unfortunate case occurred at Global Auction House, where a painting suspected to be inauthentic was sold for a hammer price of USD 111,127—more than double the price of a genuine Affandi painting, which was sold at Sotheby’s for USD 51,507.
This incident is highly concerning, as it not only misleads collectors and art enthusiasts, but also undermines the value and legacy of Affandi’s authentic works. It highlights the urgent need for caution, transparency, and deeper education in the art world, especially in the auction process, which ideally should involve thorough due diligence.
Through this website, we aim to raise awareness of such cases and serve as a reliable resource for anyone seeking to better understand the authenticity of Affandi’s artworks.
Interestingly, Global Auction even published a blog post discussing the Affandi painting they believed to be authentic, available at this link: https://global.auction/stories/2024/03/self-portrait-eating-watermelon-by-affandi. They also released an official YouTube video about the same painting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdDqFP0QJsA.
They even included a certificate that is believed to confirm the authenticity of the work. However, this only adds to the complexity of the issue, as there have been many cases where certificates themselves have been forged. This highlights the fact that while certificates can be useful, they should not be the sole measure of authenticity.
These materials reinforce the importance of being cautious when interpreting such claims, especially when they come from institutions expected to uphold rigorous curatorial standards.