Sotheby’s has released its report in Chinese re-affirming its attribution of the now-disputed scroll purchased by Liu Yiqian for $8.2m last September in New York:
“We have published a detailed and comprehensive analysis rebutting each of the issues raised about the authenticity of the work,” the auction house said in a statement. “This report demonstrates that the brushwork of The Gong Fu Tie Calligraphy is inconsistent with that of a late copy or tracing as was alleged and is of such high quality that it could only have been created by a masterly hand using a soft brush.
Furthermore, we have established that both the seals and colophon are genuine, serving as further proof that the piece was created by Su Shi.”
Sotheby’s Report Defends Chinese Scroll It Sold as Authentic (NYTimes)