Museum of Miniature Found Objects

Currently on display in the DigiLab at the Museum of Miniature Found Objects is this forgery identified by Mrs Beryl van Buren and the Object Authentication Department. Extensive pollen tests carried out by the department revealed fresh traces of Tufted Saxifrage, a plant growing only in mountainous regions. This indicated the object could not have been found in the low-lying arable lands of Suffolk, as claimed by the donor. The Board of Trustees requires all forgeries to be removed from the collection and destroyed. Individuals identified as donating such items will be banned from the Palm Court Tea Rooms.

To assist visitors bringing items to the museum for authentication, the Department has put together a list of helpful hints for identifying forged or stolen miniature found objects:

  = the object's provenance is uncertain,

  = the object's finding appears to be 'too good to be true',
  = the object has been polished with Brasso,

  = the object's finder is in a hurry to part with the item,

  = the forged object has been prematurely aged to make it look more genuine.

If in doubt, do not acquire the object and contact the police immediately. Remember, forgery is a criminal offence.

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Found object:
= fabric duck: 10.56am, Wednesday 18 September 2013, Cannon Street, Bury St Edmunds.