I had a quick look at the Archaeological section of Catawiki, managed by this same expert. My God!

Is this an Etruscan bucchero? Has he never seen one in his life? Dear "expert", just googling for it is enough!

https://auction.catawiki.com/l/29345015-ancient-etruscan-blackware-bucchero-vessel

Giovanni

Hmmm... I did look at how many items Pax Romana is selling this week: 239! This may explain something.

Hi Giovanni,

when you‘re logged in on Catawiki there’s a button where you can leave a comment about the description. 

Agree with you about the Ming statues, so many and they are obviously from the same factory. The price is still low with 3 days to go so maybe buyers are suspicious. 

Dear Birgit,

now I have found the way to contact them. It is not in the same place of the description (may be the screen is not the same in all Countries?). I have found it in the FAQ page. Will write them, although I know it is totally useless.

I did this post just because I found it extremely irritating the fact that they are trying to depicting themselves as being totally different from eBay, as being a safe place where to buy, while instead they are absolutely the same.

Ebay is perfectly aware that the great majority of listings in the area of Antiques are fake. They know that; they do nothing for contrasting the fraudulent activity only because the income from the market of fake items is by far superior.

Now, Catawiki is doing the same, but on top of that they too, and not only their sellers, are cheating the buyers. And all this claiming that they are a serious, safe place. At least, eBay do not make any claim.

That is not tolerable, they are cheating the buyer two times. The case of that seller is a real scandal, it is not possible that they do not know perfectly that those things are fake. They have an expert for that. It is not matter of mistakes, what they declare in the description is a clear way of trying to “wash their hands”.

Regards

Giovanni

Dear Giovanni,

it seems they removed the option to comment the description. I couldn't find it anymore but am sure it was there, right in the description of the items, because I once left a comment and I remember Julia also did. This is a rather bad sign. I never managed to win an item at Catawiki and have stopped visiting altogether. Either the price was pushed to astronomic heights by some bidders or there was a minimum price that I didn't reach. Part of the fun on Ebay is that you can make a bargain now and then by clever bidding. On Catawiki the item just goes to the buyer with the fattest purse.

Pax Romana have a gallery opposite the British Museum, they also hold regular auctions. Here is their website:

https://paxromana.auction/?SID=95ee5e93e959e80d7cd9dbd2130fb349

Whether they are the same people as those selling on Catawiki, I couldn't tell you

Dear Giovanni - 

I would concur with your comments ...

In one respect, Catawiki are even worse then eBay, as the objects offered are supposed to have been check and verified as authentic/genuine by there so called 'experts'!! Anyone can make a mistake - we've all have - but I would questions how/why so many blatant fakes are getting pass these 'experts' ... It would appear, as you quite rightly point out, other games are been played here ... Scandalous ...!!!

Stuart  

Hello ebay exposer,

I didn’t know that they have a shop. I did click on the link that you have provided. As the page popped up, I start to laugh. Have you noted the horse in the lower right corner of the shop window? Even at that distance it is laughable.

Dear Stuart, you have correctly understood my meaning.

Regards,

Giovanni

@clayandbrush

Hello, new to reading this forum and thought this could help everyone:

Catawiki makes money through commission earnings on the sales; Pax Romana is one of the " founding sellers" on the Antiquities section and have earned Catawiki a lot of money.

The Catawiki Expert look the other way even if the know its fake as this seller brings them huge earnings.

Pax Romana is filled with what looks like fakes antiquities of all cultures, just go to the store near the British Museum and you will be shocked at what you will see, tourist items made recently by the looks of it.

Not all items look fake but many do look and feel fake what Pax Romana sells.

Unfortunately the Catawiki experts are helping this fake trade in antiquities, and past 2 years another seller is full of fakes on Catawiki, one based in England as well.

By the way now Catawiki experts have organized Special Auctions: Pax Romana Antiquities; i feel sad for the buyers spending money on the fakes.

@ebay-exposer

Hello, Yes its same people, the owner is Dr Ivan Bonchev if not mistaken

A so called academic with a degree from Oxford University.

He owns Pax Romana store near British museum and same that holds the auctions on Catawiki with what looks like fakes

Just visited their website but it’s strangely empty, no items, just a skeleton of categories.

I just tried too, but I didn't want to accept their terms and conditions simply to visit their site without seeing what I was agreeing to; when I clicked the link, I got a message saying the site can't be reached. So, I declined the ts and cs and wasn't allowed any further.

@julia

That's not suspicious at all. 🙄 

😆 Not much, nor was being asked to sign up to terms and conditions just to have a look! 🤣 

@shinigami

it might be because they just finished an auction on the 10th or 11th, thus all categories empty.

as for the terms and condition has to do with Cookies policy if not mistaken.

Pax Romama currently has an auction live on Catawiki with 100 items, half as usual looks fake , sadly Pax Romana as usual seem to have fake antiquities ( by the looks ) and the Catawiki Expert Peter Reynaers and Ruth Garrido Vila are once more helping to sell the fakes on their website.