The supposed rightful owner claims in a lawsuit that a long-lost business card allegedly hand-drawn by Jean-Michel Basquiat miraculously emerged at a Sotheby’s auction.
Swan alleges in court documents that the renowned street artist designed the business card for her and her partner, fashion designer Isaia Rankin, for their Lower East Side clothes store “Fertility” in the 1980s.
According to the case, the card, on which Basquiat scratched the names of Swan, Rankin, and the store, was stolen and came up in the custody of Rankin’s former employee.
The employee, Robert Page, then delivered it to Sotheby’s for the auction in October 2019 and charged Swan, who now wants the auction house to return it.
Swan, who is seeking $500,000 in damages, was made aware of the $40,000 auction by a friend. Swan is seeking $500,000 in damages.
The business card was designed for Phyllis Swan and her fashion designer partner, Isaia Rankin.
Swan stated that the card has been assessed for at least $75,000.
According to the court complaint, Sotheby’s attorneys said Page told them the artwork was a gift from Rankin, a claim they confessed they could not authenticate.
Swan’s attorney and Sotheby’s did not reply to requests for comment immediately.
»Jean-Michel Basquiat’s hand-drawn stolen card was discovered after 30 years: lawsuit«