Hjalmar ‘Hjmlm’ MUNSTERHJELM
1840–1905, Finland

Oil on canvas, 81x117 cm, signed Hj Munsterhjelm. The painting was for sale at a major auction house in Helsinki, Finland, spring 1997. It was cataloged as a work of Hjalmar Munsterhjelm, estimated 30,000 EUR. After consultation with Ateneum, National Public Art in Helsinki, was the painting withdrawn from auction and returned to the owner without action. December 2008, the painting is submitted to a major auction house in central Sweden and cataloged as a work of Hjalmar Munsterhjelm, title "Sailing in the evening redness". Estimated price 150,000 to 175,000 SEK, but the painting was withdrawn before the auction and returned to the owner without action. 2010, the painting is submitted for sale. This time to a smaller auction house in Stockholm Sweden. The painting is cataloged as unknown artists in their online auction, estimated 10,000 SEK. The painting was sold but the buyer made a complaint two weeks later and got back the purchase price. At the police investigation revealed that the painting is a copy of Hjalmar Munsterhjems original painting "Sunset in the archipelago" from 1886. District Court's decision: The forged signature on the painting must be removed and the back must bear the inscription: "Not painted by HJ Munsterhjelm" then will the painting be returned to the owner. Warning. There is a risk that the painting once again imposed a forged signature and is for sale as genuine works. Especially in a foreign market.