Hi,

Last weekend I saw a nice painting that I'd like to buy. I have no idea about art other than I know what I like. It won't cost more than a few thousand. With this being Thailand, there's a substantial chance the painting is a copy of someone else's work. Although I'd be buying it for myself, if I decided to sell it at a later date, say on ebay, what would be the implications? Copy or not, would I have any problems taking it back with me (unframed) on my next trip to England?

Any advice welcomed.

No problem. It may be a copy but would not be so good as to be able to passed off as an original.

Naka.

Brian, google copy art, there are many many websites and many retail outlets that do this. The art shops in Thailand send out copy art all over the world.

If you're only paying a couple thousand baht then if you get 'caught' selling on ebay by the owner of the artwork (highly unlikely he/she would ever see it on ebay...what a coincidence that would be) then you would have to take it down off ebay and no great loss. If you truly believe its original art and were not intending to sell copyrighted artwork knowingly, then there is no crime.

Take it home and enjoy it. If you want to sell it later, put it in your yard sale. No real loss in the baht department, anyway.

PS: Wanna buy a real Monet? Meet me at Soi.....

Edited February 28, 200818 yr by johnnymoretti

It will be a copy. And selling it on e bay will bring you very little. There is so much copy art on ebay but the point is, if you like it buy it for the pleasure it brings you. I have many pieces of art some original some copies and they all bring me pleasure. I have Tracey Emin that has gone up 5 fold in a year but I get more pleasure from a copy I brought in Phuket 4 years ago,. Only but art for pleasure unless you have millions.

If you want to make money do something else