William Monk
William Monk
1820 - 1890
William Monk/Smith
William Smith also known as William Monk and Charles Eaton were two London mudluarks who began counterfeiting medieval antiquities in 1857. The objects they made were mainly lead medallions, figures, pilgrim flasks and even small shrines. Many collectors were taken in by the forgeries and thousands were sold throughout Britain.
Henry Syer Cuming dismissed the "Billy and Charleys, as these fake objects were later to be called, "as almost worthless" and exposed the fraud behind their manufacture. The dealer selling the forgeries sued a magazine that had quoted from an article written on the subject of these forgeries by Henry Syer Cuming.
William Smith also known as William Monk and Charles Eaton were two London mudluarks who began counterfeiting medieval antiquities in 1857. The objects they made were mainly lead medallions, figures, pilgrim flasks and even small shrines. Many collectors were taken in by the forgeries and thousands were sold throughout Britain.
Henry Syer Cuming dismissed the "Billy and Charleys, as these fake objects were later to be called, "as almost worthless" and exposed the fraud behind their manufacture. The dealer selling the forgeries sued a magazine that had quoted from an article written on the subject of these forgeries by Henry Syer Cuming.