Lol (and 😭😭😭) at the beautiful things just ending up sitting in a safe owned by a sociopath billionaire! I'm not sure if it's made the news in America but over here there's a huge scandal going on with the British Museum curators secretly selling thousands items from its archive on ebay (ebay!). I was curious if you had any thoughts on that, or like, dubious provenance in the world of auctions and online sales
Oh yes, we've been following the story of that curator! I have to think there's a much deeper story there...You don't land a job that's at the very pinnacle of your specialty, stay there for decades, and just suddenly start stealing for no reason. Something happened there, and the possibilities only make me feel immense sorrow for him. Anger, of course, too, but just....ugh. Terrible story.
The whole dubious provenance thing is huge in the industry. I try to keep away from antiquities - looting has occurred over centuries, but it exploded with ISIS (helloooo, Hobby Lobby) in the past 20 years or so and I don't want to go anywhere near that stuff. And fakes are a massive problem, too - my brilliant former colleague Rob wrote an article on this a couple years ago where he spoke with Jack Ogden (the founder of the Society of Jewellery Historians), who estimated the HALF of the "antique" gold jewelry on the market is fake. And of course, like every industry, museums and auctions houses have cut down on staff, so it's way easier for stuff to slip through. And then you add in the online sellers....it's a free-for-all. All you can do is do your homework, ask questions, and build relationships with reputable people. Here's Rob's article if you're interested: https://www.jckonline.com/editorial-article/ancient-jewelry-market-counterfeit/
I agree that there's a really sorted story going on there that we don't know about yet. Curious they haven't arrested anyone. I'm excited to read about fakes, thanks for the link! I don't know as much about those. My undergrad I specalized in restitution/provenance issues and I just completed a masters in material culture studies so I am really interested in this stuff.
There was a not dissimilar scandal several years ago at the National Archives in the US. NOT the same scale, but a French historian who worked for National History Day had been stealing WWII memorabilia from NARA, and what is the most bonkers part of the whole thing to me is that he was stealing and selling dog tags. Like an item that is made explicitly to be traceable. The whole thing came to light when an archivist was reading a journal and saw a dog tag in a photo, with the caption saying it was in private hands, when the archivist knew it was from NARA. They don’t even sell for that much! Like to throw your life and career away for a few hundred bucks at a time??!
I would love a print of the winter’s boob. There’s a joke in there about the breast of the new-fallen snow maybe? Idk. I just love that image. The witches’ sabbath is also perfection. Would love to just collect weird fancy art (since now I collect affordable weird art).
Thank you as always for another delightful issue of Dearest.
Beautiful and weird items to look at along with excellent (and sometimes very fun snarky!) comments.
I love your newsletter and can't wait for the October issue!
Take care and stay healthy.
Thanks, Steph!
The watch is, indeed, irritating in the extreme
Love this! And that painting belongs in the Louvre!
Lol (and 😭😭😭) at the beautiful things just ending up sitting in a safe owned by a sociopath billionaire! I'm not sure if it's made the news in America but over here there's a huge scandal going on with the British Museum curators secretly selling thousands items from its archive on ebay (ebay!). I was curious if you had any thoughts on that, or like, dubious provenance in the world of auctions and online sales
Oh yes, we've been following the story of that curator! I have to think there's a much deeper story there...You don't land a job that's at the very pinnacle of your specialty, stay there for decades, and just suddenly start stealing for no reason. Something happened there, and the possibilities only make me feel immense sorrow for him. Anger, of course, too, but just....ugh. Terrible story.
The whole dubious provenance thing is huge in the industry. I try to keep away from antiquities - looting has occurred over centuries, but it exploded with ISIS (helloooo, Hobby Lobby) in the past 20 years or so and I don't want to go anywhere near that stuff. And fakes are a massive problem, too - my brilliant former colleague Rob wrote an article on this a couple years ago where he spoke with Jack Ogden (the founder of the Society of Jewellery Historians), who estimated the HALF of the "antique" gold jewelry on the market is fake. And of course, like every industry, museums and auctions houses have cut down on staff, so it's way easier for stuff to slip through. And then you add in the online sellers....it's a free-for-all. All you can do is do your homework, ask questions, and build relationships with reputable people. Here's Rob's article if you're interested: https://www.jckonline.com/editorial-article/ancient-jewelry-market-counterfeit/
I agree that there's a really sorted story going on there that we don't know about yet. Curious they haven't arrested anyone. I'm excited to read about fakes, thanks for the link! I don't know as much about those. My undergrad I specalized in restitution/provenance issues and I just completed a masters in material culture studies so I am really interested in this stuff.
There was a not dissimilar scandal several years ago at the National Archives in the US. NOT the same scale, but a French historian who worked for National History Day had been stealing WWII memorabilia from NARA, and what is the most bonkers part of the whole thing to me is that he was stealing and selling dog tags. Like an item that is made explicitly to be traceable. The whole thing came to light when an archivist was reading a journal and saw a dog tag in a photo, with the caption saying it was in private hands, when the archivist knew it was from NARA. They don’t even sell for that much! Like to throw your life and career away for a few hundred bucks at a time??!
The blue diamond ring earned an audible, reverently whispered, "ooohhhh," from me.
Yeah, it's a beaut.
How does Howard the Duck appear in a 1500's oil on copper Witches Sabbath?
Because Howard the Duck is immortal. An imperishable figure appearing though time.
I would happily buy a knockoff of that novelty maiolica ewer of the male harpy snake-bird. So much character!
I would love a print of the winter’s boob. There’s a joke in there about the breast of the new-fallen snow maybe? Idk. I just love that image. The witches’ sabbath is also perfection. Would love to just collect weird fancy art (since now I collect affordable weird art).
“Winter’s Boob” by Tori Amos
Great post!!!!!!
The blue diamond ring was immediately forwarded to my girlfriends with the phrase “ when he asks”. 🤣. The dreams you suddenly start dreaming, lol!