Waiter knocks thumb off Roman sculpture at British Museum

Even museums are not safe places for ancient art, it seems (BBC, "Waiter knocks thumb off Roman sculpture at British Museum" 27 October 2016 )

Townly Venus

A waiter working at the British Museum knocked the thumb off a priceless Roman sculpture, it has emerged. The accident occurred in December last year, according to The Art Newspaper, but has only just come to light. The waiter, who was from an external company, had bent down underneath the Townley Venus and knocked its right hand while getting up again. The thumb was knocked clean off the statue and fell to the floor intact. The statue has now been restored.[...] The sculpture, which depicts a half-naked figure of the goddess of love, is a marble copy of the Greek original and dates from the 1st or 2nd Centuries. It was excavated in 1775 from the baths at the port of Ostia in Rome and bought by English collector Charles Townley. It was sold to the British Museum in 1805. The Greek original dates back to the 4th Century BC.

Antiquity trade under pressure

Melanie Gerlis, "The Art Market: Antiquity trade under pressure" Financial Times  October 21, 2016

The antiquities trade is under pressure again. As Cyprus prepares for its presidency of the Council of Europe, which promotes human rights, high on the agenda is combating illicit trafficking in cultural property. Ioannis Kasoulides, Cyprus’s foreign minister, has called for a “robust” UN Security Council resolution to “apply universal limitations on the trade and transfer of artefacts originating from all conflict zones, with the obligation of proof of legitimate trade resting on the traders, auction houses and buyers and not on the originating state”.  This represents a reversal of the current burden of proof system. “It is the equivalent of saying that everything in your home is stolen and can be confiscated unless you have proof that it’s not,” says Joanna van der Lande, chairman of the Antiquities Dealers’ Association. 

Ohio Museum Sells Antiquities

The Toledo Museum of Art houses an impressive collection of ancient and contemporary artifacts, but now in a clearout of its stores is deaccessinge some items, making them available to collectors: Ohio Museum's Sale of Antiquities From Egypt Draws Criticism October 24, 2016

Ohio's Toledo Museum of Art is selling 68 antiquities from its collection, a move drawing criticism from a nationally known archaeologist and Egyptian officials. The Blade newspaper reports about half the items are from Egypt. Others come from Cyprus, Greece and Italy. They're being sold in a New York auction on Tuesday and an online sale closing the same day. The museum's director says its board approved selling the items that didn't meet the current collection's quality. He says it expects to generate about $500,000, which can be used on other acquisitions. Art expert and Toledo native Joan Connelly says it's distressing because modern laws make it difficult to acquire such items.

Which is precisely why legally acquired items should be made available to collectors.

UNESCO backs resolution ignoring Jewish link to Temple Mount

Raphael Ahren, 'UNESCO backs resolution ignoring Jewish link to Temple Mount', Times of Israel October 13, 2016

The United Nations’ cultural arm on Thursday passed a resolution ignoring Jewish ties to the Temple Mount and the Western Wall [...] The resolution, adopted at the committee stage, used only Muslim names for the Jerusalem Old City holy sites and was harshly critical of Israel for what it termed “provocative abuses that violate the sanctity and integrity” of the area.[...]  The controversial resolution starts by affirming the “importance of the Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls for the three monotheistic religions,” but then goes on to accuse Israel — which it consistently calls “the occupying power” — of a long list of wrongdoings.

One GOP priority for 2017 should be to develop a serious agenda to radically lessen influence of UN.

Collector Targeted: Historical Artifacts Stolen in UK

With all the rancorous hate spread by archeologists about collectors, it is not surprising that they and the objects they preserve and display are being targeted by thieves:

Ancient Egyptian artefacts, historical swords, daggers, spears and arrows have been stolen from an 18th Century mansion in East Lothian. Items from a rare historical collection were taken from Biel House in Stenton some time between 16:00 on Tuesday and 09:00 on Wednesday. They are worth a four-figure sum of money. Police Scotland have appealed for witnesses. PC Karen Hamilton said: “These artefacts have been in the museum at Biel House for many years and we are keen to make sure these are returned to where they belong.”

BBC News: 'Historical artefacts stolen from mansion in East Lothian' BBC 6 October 2016

Lothian is part of Scottland.  The house itself is described here.

Coins as History

Back of a sestersius issued by Nero in 64AD to celebrate the opening of the port at Ostia

Grutters still in denial over damaging new German cultural law despite all the evidence

European art market: Grutters still in denial over damaging new German cultural law despite all the evidence