A glimpse into the world of one of the most dynamic characters in Gothic architecture, antiquity and forgery. Can you spot a fake?

George Shaw (1810-76) operated a sizeable architectural practice in Yorkshire that offered architectural visions of the medieval world with furniture, painted glass, and ironwork tailored to the historical interests of nineteenth-century clients.

Research of Shaw’s diaries and letters by Cardiff University reveal a keen collector with an insatiable passion for the past, but later blurred the boundary between fact and fiction with forgeries.

Learn how Shaw used his antiquarian knowledge to produce fake 'Tudor' furniture sold as genuine family 'relics' to aristocrats.

Following an illuminating talk, take part in our ‘Spot the Fake’ lab to see if you can identify authentic and forged details from reproductions.

Participants will shape forgery narratives and explore the ethics of heritage and authenticity.

Suitable for all.

Being Human Festival, the UK’s national festival of the humanities, takes place 5 to 14 November 2026. Being Human is led by the School of Advanced Study, University of London in partnership with the Arts and Humanities Research Council and the British Academy. For further information, visit the festival's website, beinghumanfestival.org.

Location

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Architecture Library, Second Floor
Bute Building
King Edward VII Avenue
Cardiff
CF10 3NB

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