It was inevitable.
The rising popularity of Montici mosaics and their accelerating auction prices has spawned copyists eager to cash in.
In 2020, two separate mosaics appeared on EBay, advertised with the attention-grabbing headline as “Richard Blow/Montici pietra dura.” Both images showed known Blow designs – the first, a watermelon with knife; the second, two women on a beach. Apparently, India is now churning out Montici copies. Once you visit the site, you quickly discover they’re reproductions; the accompanying detail sheet clearly states that. Not that an educated collector would need warning. You immediately spot the unimaginative selection and variety of stones, the cheap craftsmanship (cement oozes from the joints). Not to mention the selling price (under $500), far below the price of a genuine Blow mosaic. Nobody is fooled. But we’re disappointed by eBay’s decision to allow the seller to still market them under the bait-and -switch headline “Richard Blow Montici..”
In early 2021, the company began hawking two more Richard Blow Montici copies– the one, a jeweled hand; the other, Richard’s 1973 abstract, “OSU Balloon,” donated to Oregon State University and featured in their 1976 catalogue (see below).
“OSU Balloon”
Richard Blow 1973
Copy
Made in India 2021
But this time, the advertising headline didn’t include the words “Richard Blow Montici”. Instead, the title reads “Pietra Dura rare royal art collectible heirloom Christmas gift decorative sculpt.” The site goes on the explain that it is offering copies of “…."Giuseppe Fiaschi", "Richard Blow Montici", "G Ugolini", "Giovanni Montelatici", "Pablo Picasso", "Amedeo Modigliani", "Salvador Dali", "Giuseppe Zocchi" and many other world-famous artists on abstract, nude, surrealism, cubism, impressionism, landscape styles.”
And so it continues. Four and counting….
Yet viewed in another way, I guess it’s a compliment. Copyists only copy things that sell. And Montici mosaics certainly do.
Michael Schmicker
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