An investigation by the Carabinieri’s Cultural Heritage Protection Unit in Turin, led by Major Ferdinando Angeletti, has uncovered over 250 counterfeit works attributed to the internationally renowned Turin-based artist Carol Rama. The operation, dubbed ‘Olga,’ was announced this afternoon at the Accorsi Ometto Foundation, which is currently hosting the exhibition ‘Carol Rama – Geniale Sregolatezza.’
The press conference was attended by the Foundation’s Director, Luca Mana, the President of the Carol Rama Archive, Michele Carpano, and, via video link, Giuliana Calcani, Director of the ‘Laboratorio del falso’ (Fake Lab) at Roma Tre University.
The investigation, coordinated by the public prosecutor’s office, began in late 2022 after monitoring the antique market revealed a suspicious, sharp spike in the value of Rama’s works. A subsequent search of a local forger’s residence uncovered the counterfeit drawings and paintings, along with the tools used to create them. These included old yellowed paper, pastels, markers, and other drawing materials employed to mimic the artist’s distinctive style.
The Carol Rama Archive confirmed the works were complete fakes, all traceable to a single hand. The search also revealed forgeries of works by artist Enrico Baj. Investigators believe the counterfeit pieces were ready to be introduced to the market through auctions or antique markets, with an estimated illegal turnover exceeding 350,000 euros.
The Court of Turin found the forger responsible, sentencing him to one year and four months in prison and ordering the confiscation of all the fake artworks. The Carol Rama Archive, which joined the proceedings as a civil party citing damage to its reputation, was granted the right to compensation.
The seized forgeries will be used for academic study; they have been donated to the ‘Laboratorio del falso’ at Roma Tre University. Established in 2012 in collaboration with the Carabinieri TPC, the lab is dedicated to teaching and scientific research on combating art forgery.