On October 28, 2015, U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) Office of Inspector General (OIG) special agents from New York City recovered a Works Progress Administration (WPA) etching, “Manhattan from Brooklyn” by artist Mortimor Borne, from an antiques store in Hopewell, New Jersey.
OIG special agents had originally identified the etching when it was listed for sale on eBay. The listing included pictures showing a Federal Art Project stamp on the front of the piece and a WPA identification label affixed to the back of it.
The special agents reached out to the seller of the painting who claimed that the etching had been obtained at an estate sale.
The seller agreed to end the eBay listing while GSA Fine Arts Program staff verified that the etching was a WPA commissioned piece.
GSA quickly made the official determination that the etching was WPA commissioned, and OIG special agents notified the seller about the determination. The seller agreed to release the etching to GSA. The special agents then recovered the etching from the antiques store, where it was being held.
OIG special agents will transfer the painting to the GSA Fine Arts Program office, which will find a suitable public location for the painting.
