Art Dealer Accused of Defrauding Sculptor’s Estate

The heirs of modernistartist Alexander Calder have accused art dealer Klaus Perls, Calder’s longtimeconfidant, of defrauding the Calder estate out of millions.

Calder is known as theinventor of the moving sculpture, the mobile. His heirs believe Perls and his daughter, Katherine, have beendefrauding the estate for the last three decades, going so far as to use Swissbank accounts to hide the proceeds of unauthorized art sales.  Perls died in 2008 and Katherine is now theexecutor of his estate.  Calder’s heirsare seeking over $20 million in damages.

See Chris Dolmetsch &Sophia Pearson, Sculptor Calder’s EstateAccuses Late Confidant of Fraud, Bloomberg, Oct. 30, 2013.