For many of these collectors, having their collection displayed in a museum, or even having it become a museum, is seen as the ultimate validation of...

For many of these collectors, having their collection displayed in a museum, or even having it become a museum, is seen as the ultimate validation of their achievement. In the absence of evidence to the contrary, museums must assume that such collections of unprovenanced items might contain illicit material or even fakes because the collector was no match for the secretive trade. One day one of these fabulous private collections will be offered to a museum. What is that museum going to do?