Fryday notes the passing of noted forger C.
F. (Carl) Goldie.
Carl was the first New Zealander to be
convicted for art forgery. That was in 1985 when he was charged, found guilty
and fined $1000 for forging paintings and drawings and hocking them off as the
work of C. F. (Charles) Goldie, Rita Angus and Colin McCahon among others.
Goldie was Goldie’s favourite, which is the
reason why after going legit the then Karl Sim changed his name to Carl Feodor
Goldie so he could legally sign his paintings C. F. Goldie.
I knew Karl/Carl from my time in Orewa. He
was a local and quite a character. He was often in town though he lived a
reclusive life out in the country somewhere—somewhere visitors were not
encouraged and he was left alone to do his painting, his drawings and to look
after his beloved dog.
Carl has been described as kind, gentle and
generous. He was. He gave me a signed copy of his biography—at least I think it
his signature. He also on commission painted a very special birthday present
for a friend of mine for just the cost of materials and refused to accept
anything more.
I lost touch with him after I moved from
Orewa. But I understand he developed arthritis, which prevented him from
painting; he managed a few sketches, but that was all.
C. F. Goldie died in North Shore Hospital
October 21. He was 89. In November 2007 he was named the eighth greatest forger
in the world.
RIP Carl…mate.
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