Vi Kien Thanh, director of the department, said the centre was inaugurated after eight months of preparation due to the fact that there have been many convincing imitations of famous artists’ works sold in the country.

The centre will work as a public service, Thanh said, adding that while no other individual or organisation wants to take responsibility to examine art works, the State-run department will do the work for a short time so the fine arts market is transparent. Maybe after a short time, some agencies will take on the duty.

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A painting drawn by painter Nguyen Dong in January 2018 featuring a Hanoian girl, a copy of which was auctioned in Hanoi later with a fake signature of noted painter Vu Giang Huong (1930-2011)

The centre will receive submissions and give feedback within seven days. A contract will be signed, and the centre will issue a report on the authenticity of the works after 15 days.

For cases that require high-tech skills, the centre will ask for support from the Ministry of Public Security’s National Institute of Criminal Sciences. The results may be issued later according to agreements between customers and the centre.

The centre’s examining council includes various prestigious names including painters Luong Xuan Doan and Thanh Chuong, researcher Phan Cam Thuong, sculptors Vuong Hoc Bao and Le Lang Luong and photographer Vu Quoc Khanh.

Customers will pay the council an examination fee that will vary based on the number of works to be inspected. The fee for examining one to three works will be 35 million VND (1,500 USD), four to 10 works costs 70 million VND, 11 to 20 works costs 140 million VND and more than 50 costs 281 million VND.

Source: VNA