BILLY AND CHARLEY (OR THE SHADWELL FORGERIES)

BILLY AND CHARLEY (OR THE SHADWELL FORGERIES),
c.1860, a pair of Billy and Charley brass medallions cast with decoration of medieval appearance,
8.5 x 6cm (2)

Billy and Charley came from the area of Shadwell, London and began making forgeries in the middle of the 19th century. They started out as mudlarks, scouring the banks of the Thames for anything of value which they could then sell on. This brought them into contact with William Edwards, a London antiques dealer, who paid them for anything of interest they found. It soon became clear to Billy and Charley that there was money to be made in antiques, and in 1857 they began their counterfeit operation.

It is believed that in the four or five years they were in production, Billy and Charley produced between 5,000 and 10,000 forgeries. The sheer volume of items aroused suspicions and they were brought to the attention of the British Museum who believed them to be forgeries. However, many archaeologists and local historians believed them to be real, giving them dates ranging from 1300 to 1600. Even a court case could not prove that the objects were forged or that the two men were behind it.
Sold for £140

Condition report:
No damage, excellent condition.