Antiquities and Ancient Art

50+ Fine Antiquities Profiled in Catalogue XXXIV

Fragments of Time, Inc., a leading international dealer specializing in art of the ancient Mediterranean cultures, has released its Spring 2005 catalogue entitles Art from the Ancient World XXXIV.  The catalogue offers more than 50 exceptional antiquities in price ranges from $200 to $15,000.

"Everyone who has been collecting ancient art has seen prices rise significantly over the past five years," said John Ambrose, Director and Founder of Fragments of Time. "Fortunately, we have the advantage of an extensive inventory, with many of our objects coming from Europe and purchased prior to the accelerated weakness in the US dollar. As a result, our latest catalogue offers a variety of superb opportunities for the knowledgeable collector."

Catalogue XXXIV includes a number of fine ancient Egyptian scarabs; a wonderful soapstone magical stele; high quality inscribed shabti (644-332 BC); and a number of fine Cypriot and early Greek objects. There is also a large and striking 5th century BC Greek antefx from Taras and a rare white-on-blackware Greek askos in the form of a piglet. A selection of fine Roman antiquities, including a remarkably detailed museum-quality terracotta statue in the form of a 'provocator' gladiator, a provincial Roman stele with Silvanus, and a powerful bronze statuette of a Lar.

A complimentary copy of the latest catalogue is available.

Biblical Scholars Locked in High-Tech, High-Stakes Debate Over Authenticity

Interesting article from the Associated Press discusses three current high-profile, high-tech debates involving biblical antiquities:

In the most important development, scholars, including Russell Adams of Hamilton's McMaster University, say tests on remains from a dig in Jordan indicate the biblical country of Edom existed during the era of kings David and Solomon, if not earlier. The find could undercut skeptics of biblical history.

Prosecutors in Israel filed fraud charges Dec. 29 involving a purported first-century inscription of Jesus Christ's name. But a prominent archeology magazine plans to assail the government's scientific evidence.

New testing indicates the Shroud of Turin, a celebrated relic said to be Christ's burial cloth, could actually date from his time. That opposes scientists' earlier conclusion that the artifact is a fraud from the medieval era.

Italy Fails to Restructure Laws Regarding Personal Ownership of Antiquities Inside its Borders

Late breaking news this evening from Italy by way of BigNewsAustralia, one of the first sites to carry it. According to BigNews:

"Italian officials have been forced to withdraw a measure that would have allowed those in possession of illegal archaeological objects to keep them.

The measure was in the form of an amendment to the 2005 budget, now under discussion in parliament.

The bill would allow those with illegal objects to keep them in exchange for payment of 5 percent of their value to the government, it was reported this week.

The rejection was disclosed to the Italian press by Gianfranco Conte, a member of parliament for Prime Minister Berlusconi's Forze Italia party, which introduced the amendment last summer. Conte said he was undeterred and would press ahead with legislation to liberalize Italian law as it relates to cultural goods despite the opposition of Cultural Minister Giovanni Urbani.

As the law stands, it is illegal for private citizens to hold any archaeological items discovered in the past century. Written in the early 20th century, the law was designed to discourage looting of historical sites and black market dealings in antiquities, but it is widely flouted by collectors and dealers alike.

Conte denounced existing laws governing archaeological objects, saying they are excessively restrictive, and have the adverse effect of penalizing dealers, honest collectors, and heirs while stimulating the black market."

Though this is a blow to the growing movement within Italy calling for changes to the country's draconian laws regarding antiquities, it is encouraging to see that Mr. Conte continues to push forward and will not let the issue simply fade away.

Oriental Institute in Chicago Opens New 'Fertile Crescent' Gallery

Visitors can enjoy a wonderful survey of most important geographic regions in the ancient Near East with the opening of “Empires in the Fertile Crescent: Ancient Assyria, Anatolia and Israel,” the newest galleries at the University’s Oriental Institute Museum.

The galleries showcase artifacts that illustrate the power of these ancient civilizations, including sculptural representations of tributes demanded by kings of ancient Assyria, and some sources of continual fascination, such as a fragment of the Dead Sea Scrolls—one of the few examples in the United States.

The galleries also contain artifacts connected with the beginning of two important eras, the Bronze Age and the later Iron Age, as well as artifacts from Megiddo, a site that is figuratively connected with the end of all eras—the site referred to in the Bible as Armageddon.

James Henry Breasted, the founder of the Oriental Institute, coined the term “Fertile Crescent” for the region that extends from the fertile plains of Mesopotamia, across the Taurus Mountains of Anatolia, and down the Mediterranean coast to Israel and Palestine. The galleries include objects from 6000 to 600 B.C. from ancient Assyria, Anatolia (modern-day Turkey), Syria and Israel/Palestine, which were part of the Fertile Crescent.  For more information.

Two Months Remaining for 'Light from the Age of Augustine" Exhibit in New Haven, CT

If you are traveling I-95 through Connecticut, it is worth a short detour in New Haven to visit the Knights of Columbus Museum located just off the highway.

Now throught April 16, 2005, the museum presents an exhibition featuring 105 pieces of African Red Slip Ware ceramics from the Third through the Sixth Centuries. The items are on loan from the Harvard University Art Museums and from private collectors, including Fragments of Time and objects sold over the years to several clients.

These red clay ceramics -- bowls, plates, jugs and lamps -- were produced in provinces located in what is now modern Tunisia in North Africa and exported throughout the Roman Empire. Rome had occupied North Africa after defeating the city-state of Carthage, positioned on the Tunisian coast 90 miles from Sicily.

Images on the ceramics capture religious and popular themes of the period, including scenes from the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament, non-biblical Christian images, pagan and imperial imagery, amphitheater scenes, nature and daily life.

A number of the ceramics reflect the transition of the Empire to Christianity. The most highly regarded holy man of the region was the Bishop of Hippo Regius, St. Augustine (354-430). Many of his sermons' themes were replicated on the ceramics. Augustine traveled extensively between the Roman provinces in North Africa and Italy.

Man Allegedly Tries to Steal Roman Artifacts from Display at British Museum

A 40-year-old-man was apprehended by astute British Museum security guards after he allegedly attempted to steal ancient objects from a display case in the Greek and Roman Gallery.

According to a report in the the Art Daily, the case contained Roman cameos, jewelry, glass vessels, and larger sculptures.  The man was said to have been discovered with pliers and wire in hand in what was apparently an unsuccessful effort.