1972 WORK BEGAN ON THE CATALOGUE AND THE FIRST FAKE WORKS BEGAN TO CIRCULATE

Work began on the first general catalogue edited by Germano Celant, in part as a response to the attempts to introduce the first fake works. 

Piero Manzoni already had a market for his works during his lifetime, with prices rising from the early years of his career to the last. In the immediate aftermath of his death, this market continued to flourish, stimulated by the numerous solo and group shows in Italian and international galleries and museums. Even though they were realised with fairly precise and rigorous techniques, his works appeared easy to imitate and the first fakes were already being produced by the late Sixties. Another positive effect of the exhibitions was that of stimulating research into the artist and for these various reasons it was felt the time was ripe for a catalogue bringing together and defining an initial nucleus of authentic works.

The family entrusted the project to Germano Celant who began assembling the various materials.