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© THE ISRAEL MUSUEM, JERUSALEM

FORGED FIGURINES. In 2000, the Israel Museum displayed these forged figurines and inscribed vessels—originally sold by Moses Shapira—in the exhibit “Truly Fake,” held in Shapira’s old home (Ticho House) in Jerusalem. In the wake of finding the authentic Moabite Stone (aka Mesha Stele) in 1868, Moabitica (the term used to designate purportedly Moabite artifacts) flooded the antiquities market. These inscriptions, figurines, and vessels were eventually exposed as forgeries—but not before many entered the collections of museums and institutions.