Woman Claims Gallery Sold Phony Sculpture

MIAMI (CN) - A woman claims a Palm Beach art gallery sold her a counterfeit sculpture for $750,000. Gasiunasen Gallery sold the "Femme Debout" to her in 1993, and refused to honor its "Guarantee of Authenticity" when she found out it was phony in 2008, Sheila Potiker says. Her federal complaint does not specify to whom the sculpture was attributed, but both Giacometti and Picasso are known to have made sculptures with that name ("Woman Upright").

Potiker claims she found out that the sculpture was counterfeit when she tried to sell it in 2008. She wants her money back. She is represented by Alex Sabo with Bressler, Amy & Ross of Miramar, Fla.

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