24/08/2001

Art aficionados Marvin Friedman and James Corcoran claim in papers filed in Manhattan state Supreme Court that Richard Serra convinced them to return a work of his in 1989 so he could fix it - and he still hasn't returned it. Corcoran and Friedman, who buy and sell art for a living, bought the piece after it was first shown in 1968. They eventually decided to sell it, and showed it to Serra first "as a courtesy," according to the suit. Serra told them the untitled work "was damaged and should either be restored or remade". The artist then offered to restore it himself - in return for 50 percent ownership. But in the years since, prices for Serra's pieces have increased dramatically often selling for millions of dollars. The untitled piece is estimated to be worth $ 6,000,000 (€ 6,578,370) the suit says. The two are suing for $ 3,000,000 (€ 3,289,185) half the value of the piece. (James Goulder)