A Conversation with an Art Detective: Doug Bort of Odyssey Global Consulting
Here at Worthwhile Magazine we may have watched “The Thomas Crown Affair” more times than we care to admit, so it is a great privilege to be able to interview a real-life art detective. Doug Bort is the founder and managing partner of Odyssey Global Consulting, a company that provides art and cultural artifact recovery services as well as the investigation of art fraud. During our conversation, we speak with Doug about his tenure working for the U.S. government and how he now uses his vast knowledge and extensive experience to provide expertise in the private sector.
The Conversation
Worthwhile Magazine (WM): We’ll start with the really juicy part—we know our readers are so curious to learn more about your years fighting art crime as a Special Agent with the United States Customs Service and Homeland Security Investigations! We know there’s a lot you can’t disclose, but we’d love to hear what you can share from your time as a Special Agent, and how that specialized experience informs the services you currently provide to clients in your company Odyssey Global Consulting?
Doug Bort (DB): Before specializing in Art & Cultural Artifact crimes, I investigated Terrorism, Transnational Criminal Organizations, Money Laundering, and a wide variety of other illegal activities. I applied all of that experience to the Art & Cultural Artifact investigations. But I also discovered that these investigations require additional expertise due to their nature, and the unique objects involved. I was also able to develop and operate an undercover platform targeting the illegal sale of art and cultural artifacts. I utilize that expertise and years of experience to provide services to Odyssey Global Consulting clients that go well beyond database checks and services typically provided by other businesses. Some of my cases are also highlighted on my website for your readers who are interested.
(WM): How did you first become interested in building a career fighting crime? Was this an interest in your childhood, or did it emerge later?
(DB): It started in my childhood. I always emulated John Wayne’s characters and other movie and TV heroes that used bravery and intelligence to fight for justice, while protecting those oppressed. I knew in my heart from a very young age that fighting crime would be my calling. I still have a John Wayne picture in my office and other inspirational items. One of my favorites is the famous Sir Edmund Burke quote: “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”
(WM): How did your career veer into the niche world of art and archaeology?
(DB): I’ve had an interest in art, archaeology, history, and paleontology for many years. My supervisors recognized those interests and my accomplishments as a Criminal Investigator, so they selected me to attend specialized training in conducting Art & Cultural Artifact investigations. A few years later, I was selected to develop and conduct specialized training for Homeland Security Investigations Special Agents and others concerning these investigations. I was a certified instructor and continued to conduct training, investigations, and undercover operations until I retired from Federal Service to pursue my passion in the private sector.
(WM): What are some of the different types of services you provide clients in Odyssey Global Consulting?
(DB): At Odyssey Global Consulting we provide many services involving art and cultural artifacts, including the following:
Tracing and recovery of lost, looted or stolen art and cultural artifacts.
Pre and post-acquisition due diligence and provenance verification.
Customized training programs concerning the protection and investigation of cultural property and art.
Investigation in all aspects of art fraud, theft, fakes, and forgeries.
Extensive experience in U.S. Customs law and cross-border movement of art and cultural artifacts.
(WM): What types of institutions, organizations, or collectors would be aided by your expertise? Do you work with family offices, museums, or insurance companies?
(DB): Odyssey Global Consulting utilizes our unique experience, knowledge, and a vast network of experts to provide professional services to many individuals and organizations. Clients include insurance companies, private collectors, museums, family offices, artist foundations, art galleries, auction houses, attorneys, Native American tribes, database providers, investigative reporters, and researchers.
(WM): Would you say that there is a particular category of objects that crosses your desk more frequently than others? Or do you handle a wide range of artworks and cultural artifacts?
(DB): We handle a wide range of objects and investigations. Many of our projects involve contemporary and classical artworks, various antiquities, cultural artifacts, high-end automobiles, and many others.
(WM): Do you work with a network of experts in different specializations? What sort of team can you pull together to customize a group of experts for a particular assignment?
(DB): Because of the diversity in the projects and services Odyssey Global Consulting is capable of providing, we have a vast network of experts. I have been privileged to meet and work with many wonderful people in various fields of expertise in my many years of conducting art and cultural artifact investigations and training. Over the years I have developed a close working relationship with a wide variety of experts within the industry. Odyssey Global Consulting works with Archaeologists, Appraisers, Provenance Researchers, Cultural Law Attorneys, Investigators, Instructors, and many other professionals. We select a team of experts from many fields with specific skills and knowledge based on the project we’re contracted to complete.
(WM): In addition to your extensive network of experts, Odyssey Global Consulting also has the benefit of working with your colleague Kaylee Eubanks. We’d love to hear more about Kaylee’s background and the ways she expands the services you are able to provide for Odyssey Global Consulting clients.
(DB): Kaylee is an Archaeologist who has an affinity and desire to be an investigator as well. She’s very intelligent and brings her own knowledge and skills to the team. Kaylee assists me with the projects, and I’m teaching her skills and techniques involved with conducting investigations, interviewing, surveilling, and other skills involved with being an investigator. I feel it’s extremely important to mentor professionals who have a passion for working in this field.
(WM): We imagine that preventing art crime from occurring in the first place is an even bigger goal than stopping it. Would you say that working with reputable sellers is one of the key ways collectors can avoid problems with legal title and cultural patrimony?
(DB): Definitely, but even when working with reputable sellers I would urge your readers to be cautious. There have been many dealers and auction houses who were thought to be “reputable” - but subsequently found to be selling looted or stolen art and cultural artifacts.
(WM): Do you have any other tips or best practices for our readers about how to avoid becoming involved in a problematic situation?
(DB): As a matter of fact, I do. I would advise your readers to gather as much information as possible about the item they wish to purchase and the seller. This would include the authenticity, provenance, and value of the item, as well as any other information available. My good friend Bernard Ewell, who is an art detective, veteran appraiser, and international art expert, wrote a great book titled Artful Dodgers – Fraud and Foolishness in the Art Market that contains a lot of great information to aid buyers before they make an art purchase. I would also recommend that your readers contact Odyssey Global Consulting and take advantage of our professional services prior to making the purchase to avoid a problematic situation.
(WM): If someone has inherited a collection that they suspect may include some questionable pieces, what should they do?
(DB): Inherited collections can be both exciting, and occasionally problematic. Inheritors have discovered that items were stolen or otherwise illegally obtained upon trying to sell those items. Odyssey Global Consulting can put together a team of experts to inventory, document, and investigate the collection. This can allow the owner to have confidence in their newly acquired pieces, take necessary steps to mitigate any legal issues right away, and avoid future legal or public relations issues.
(WM): Do you have a favorite anecdote from the field you’d be allowed to share with us?
Nereid (mermaid) Sweetmeat Stand from the Swan Service. Modeled by Johann Joachim Kaendler and Johann Friedrich Eberlein. White porcelain with enamel colors and gold leaf.
Returned to German officials via the United States Department of Immigration and Customs enforcement in a transfer ceremony held at the Museum on February 23, 2011. Learn more about the Stand’s return here.
Image source: Toledo Museum of Art.
(DB): One of my investigations involved an exquisitely crafted porcelain Nereid Sweetmeat Stand. The Stand was made in the early 18th century for the Prime Minister of Saxony as part of a lavish royal dinnerware collection known as the Swan Service. Prior to WWII, it was in Germany as part of the Dresden Museum’s collection. During the war, it was hidden behind a false wall in Castle Reichstätt for safekeeping. However, it was subsequently stolen by Russian soldiers after their hand grenades revealed its hiding place. After ending up in a gallery in the United Kingdom, the Stand made its way to an American museum in 1956 where it stayed until 2010. When I began my investigation, it was valued at over $1 Million. After my lengthy investigation and with the help of experts utilizing forensic techniques, I was able to determine that it was the original stand stolen during WWII and return it to the rightful owners.
(WM): We know from our own appraisal research how difficult it can be to search for artworks across the many scattered law enforcement databases. Do you have any thoughts about how to improve this process in the future and streamline the database search process to generate more successful outcomes for lost and stolen art?
(DB): I would love to see coordination between the numerous law enforcement, public and private databases so that the public and law enforcement could go to one source to search many databases. I would also love to see an image recognition capability that would allow users to simply take a picture of the object or artwork and search the databases as well. This would allow law enforcement to quickly recognize stolen objects and artwork that they encounter and take the appropriate action. It would also allow the public to recognize stolen objects or artwork before purchasing. This would deter criminals by making it more difficult to sell the stolen pieces.
(WM): Many professionals in the law enforcement field don’t have extensive training in art history, and it can be difficult to even realize what you’re looking at if you don’t have specialized training like we do as appraisers. Do you have any ideas about how to maximize the effectiveness of law enforcement professionals who lack art knowledge to be able to better recognize problematic, lost, or stolen artworks?
(DB): Yes, I believe it calls for a two-pronged solution. First, educating law enforcement about the value and importance of art and cultural artifacts and how criminal organizations utilize them to launder money and further illegal activities. Second, the easy-to-use database with image recognition capabilities that we discussed previously. If we can make it easy for law enforcement without specialized training to check artworks and objects they encounter, they are more likely to do so. This would lead to more stolen artifacts being recovered. In the meantime, I would encourage law enforcement to reach out to Odyssey Global Consulting or other experts if they want assistance with any art and cultural artifact investigations.
(WM): What sorts of projects have Odyssey Global Consulting been working on lately? (We recognize you can’t disclose specifics!) What sorts of projects would be a dream assignment?
(DB): Odyssey Global Consulting is currently working on projects involving cultural artifacts stolen from a European country; a high-end automobile that was stolen and exported from the United States; an investigation involving art fraud; and other projects that can’t be discussed at this time. Kaylee and I are also both Ambassadors for Artive, and work with the wonderful people there to make their database more accessible and inclusive. We’re also in discussions to provide services to Authentify Art, a company that is launching a product/service that will revolutionize the art industry. More to come on that soon! In regard to a dream assignment, we pour our expertise and passion into every project because we love what we do. If I had to pick one project that we’d love to be a part of, it would be recovering the paintings stolen from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum on March 18, 1990.
(WM): How can people reach you, and where can they find you online?
(DB): We can be contacted through the Odyssey Global Consulting website: www.odysseyglobalconsulting.com
Or directly at the phone number and email below:
(330) 441-1617
doug@odysseyglobalconsulting.com
Odyssey Global Consulting, LLC
1114 North Court Street, #182
Medina, OH 44256
Many thanks to Doug Bort for chatting with Worthwhile Magazine! You can learn more about Doug’s business at www.odysseyglobalconsulting.com.
© Worthwhile Magazine 2020