Philipp Von Stosch (1691-1757) and the Forgery of Ancient Engraved Gems

Philipp von Stosch (1691-1757) was one of the most prominent connoisseurs and collectors of ancient engraved gems. He assembled an extensive collection of approximately 3,500 pieces and published the pioneering book Gemmae antiquae caelatae in 1724. Despite this, Stosch has frequently been accused of practices that would tarnish his image as an exceptional collector and learned scholar, such as supporting the production of fake intaglios and glass gems. These claims have continued to circulate to this day, and this article examines and evaluates evidence for and against his possible conscious/direct and unconscious/indirect involvment in the creation of counterfeit gems in the eighteenth century. The discovery of Stosch’s substantial archive of gem drawings, a detailed analysis of his collecting habits, and a close examination of his collabortaions with contemporary gem engravers, among others, allow us to conclude that his activities were often misunderstood. His primary goal was to study and comprehend the techniques and styles of engraving employed by ancient artists.