Britannica Sources used in this answer

Why does scarcity increase the risk of art forgery?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Hear about William Henry Ireland's fake manuscripts of William Shakespeare including a letter written to his wife — Forgery A look at a letter supposedly written by William Shakespeare to his wife, Anne Hathaway; it was, in fact, faked by William-Henry Ireland.

Scarcity increases the risk of art forgery primarily because it drives up market prices, creating a strong financial incentive for fraud. When the demand for a specific type of art—such as works by a famous artist or pieces from a highly regarded historical era—coincides with a limited supply, the resulting high prices encourage unprincipled dealers and skilled forgers to supply the market with imitations.12

This dynamic is a recurring phenomenon in the history of art collecting. For example, when a new type of art is discovered or becomes popular, the market is often flooded with forgeries to meet the sudden demand. Because collectors and museums are eager to acquire these rare pieces, they may be more susceptible to purchasing fraudulent works.312

Furthermore, the difficulty of monitoring the enormous and often secretive global art market makes it challenging to police these transactions. Ultimately, the combination of high potential profit and the intense desire of collectors to possess rare items creates an environment where the risk of forgery is significantly elevated.21