DOCSLIB.ORG

Culture Without

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Culture Without Culture Without The Newsletter of the Illicit Antiquities Research Centre Issue 12, Spring 2003 -·r 1 .~ I l ~ The Illicit Antiquities Research Centre is a project of the Mc Donald Institute for Archaeological Research. Illicit Antiquities Research Centre he Illicit Antiquities Research Centre (IARC) was establi shed in May 1996, T under th e auspi ces of the McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research in Cambridge, England, and it commenced operations in October 1997. Its purpose is to monitor and report upon the damage caused to cultural heritage by th e interna­ ti onal trade in illi cit antiquities (i.e. antiquities which have been stolen or clandestinely excavated and illegally exported). The enormous increase in the vol­ ume of this trade over the past twenty years has caused the large-scale plundering of archaeological sites and museums around the world. The IARC wi ll raise publ ic awareness of the pro blems caused by this trade and seek appropri ate national and intern ati onal legislati on, codes of conduct and oth er conventions to pl ace restraint upon it. ClIll lIre Witholll COlllexl is publi shed tw ice-yearl y. The next issue will appea r in autum n 2003. Subsc ri pt ion detai ls are ava il ab le from: Jenny Doo le IARC McDonald Institu te fo r Archaeological Research Downing Street Cambridge CB2 3ER UK e-mail: jd244@ca m. ac. uk Front cover. Greek ivory head. possibly of Apollo. recovered in February 2003 (see p. 5). Staff: Add ress for corres pondence: Editorial Boa rd, McDonald Insti tu te for Archaeological fARC Director: Colin Ren frew ewe Research, Downing St, Cambridge , UK, CB2 3ER. fARC Co-ordinator: Neil Brodie hllp:Jlwww-mcdonald.arch.cam.ac.ukJIARC/home.hlm fARC Researcher: Jenny Doole Correspondence relating to all aspects of the legal and illegal ewe Editorial Board: Neil Brodie trade in antiquities is welcome; we will make an effort to print Augusta McMahon reasonable . non-libellous lett ers . No unsigned letters will be Chris Scarre printed , but names wi ll be withheld upon request. Peter Watson © 2003 McDonald In stitute for Archaeologica l Research Dora Kem p ewe Designer: Printed by BluePrint. 6 Cli fton Road. Cambridge. UK, CB1 7W6. ISSN 1464-1925 Tel: +44 (0)1223 472400 2 Editorial either. Yet the absence of clear provenance did not deter their sale. I ndeed, absence of prov­ enance presents no legal impediment to their sale. ulture is not the first casualty of war, nor is Yet while Iraq i artefacts of unknown origin con­ C it the most important, but the sack of Iraq 's tinue to be sold openly it is probably safe to National Museum and other cultural in stitutions assume that somewhere in Iraq archaeological towards the end of the recent Iraq connict caused sites are being dug out in the search for more. outrage around the world. The US and UK Gov­ One of the first responses to the looting of ernments were put on the defensive as high­ Iraq's National Museum has been to mount im­ ranking officials set about explaining why the mu­ ages taken fi·ommuseum catalogues and other pub­ seums had not been a fforded some degree of lications of what might be stolen material on the protection, not even a tank. No convincingjusti­ Internet. Websites include The Arl Newspaper at fication has yet emerged. The events of April http :// www.theartnewspaper.com/i raq m us/ 2003 were hardly a surpri se, regional museums stol en.html and the Oriental Institute of the Uni­ around Iraq were first looted at the end of the versity of Chicago at http://www.oi.uchicago.edu/ Gulf War and since then archaeological sites have Ol/IRAQ/iraq .html. There have also been calls been subject to chronic looting (see correspond­ for the construction ofa searchable data base which ence at http://www. mcdonald.cam.ac.uk/McD/ will store descriptions and images of stolen objects. iraq/acr-Iooting.htm). More and more material of These are good, practical measures, but in them­ probably Iraqi origin but no clear provenance has sel ves they are not enough. Data bases and cata­ been appearing on the Western market, and nei­ logues of stolen objects can deter the sale of objects ther Governments nor dealers ha ve done anything stolen from museums, or they might aid their about it. The justifi abl e outrage over the Iraq identincation and recovery, but data bases can museums should not be allowed to obscure the do nothing to prevent the trade in material that basic fact that archaeological sites throughout Iraq has been secretly and illegally excavatedfi·om ar­ have been and continue to be targeted by gangs chaeological sites. More is needed. For example, of looters in search of saleable artefacts. with the help of the US State Department the Inter­ There is a ready market for Iraqi material. national Council of Museums is preparing the In the days immediately following the break in Emergency Red List o/fraqi Anliquilies at Risk, at the National Museum I located 53 in scribed which will describe and illustrate categories of cuneiform tablets and cones for sa le on the material under threat from looting and theft. At Internet. It took me about an hour in total and so the velY least, there should be an immediate mora­ it was hardly an exhausti ve search, and as many torium on the trade of any object of a type ap­ ifnot most trade outlets do not maintain websites pearing on the Red List, unless it is accompanied the true number up for sale worldwide is any­ by written documentation of good provenance. body's guess. But what is important about these It should not be necessary in 2003 to be tablets is that they constitute a sample, they pro­ calling for a moratorium on trade. In theory at vide us with a glimpse of th e bigger picture, and least, for the past decade or so, trade in Iraqi ar­ none of them had any indication of provenance. tefacts has been outlawed by the UN Security Indeed, if anything, th e reverse was the case. Council's imposition of trade sanctions, although Many of the tablets were claimed to have been in practice these sanctions have had no notice­ authenticated and translated by Professor Wilfred able effect on the antiquities trade. They might Lambert, which implies that they were fresh to as well not have existed. The United Nations will the market and previously unknown. Indeed, Pro­ now be looking to lift trade sanctions as soon as fessor Lambert said as much himself when he it is practicable to do so, but it is imperative that was interviewed by the Nelli York Times (30 April restrictions are left in place for archaeological 2003). He was reported as saying that he had au­ material , and that they are enforced. thenticated several hundred objects from Iraq, and In the immediate aftermath of the war both that he did not know where any came from. He the US and UK governments confirmed that it is suspected the dealers he worked for did not know illegal to trade in archaeological material that has 3 left Iraq since the Gulf War. In the United King­ criminal offence. Neither th e United States nor dom, on 14 April 2003, the British Prime Minister the United Kingdom have signed the Hague Con­ Tony Blair announced in the House of Com mons vention, but if they had we can be sure that those that the British Govemment would do everything responsible for securing th e National Museum in its power to prevent the sale in the United King­ and other cultural sites and in stitutions through­ dom of cultural objects looted from Iraq, and also out Iraq would have been far more di li gent in the to ensure that any such objects that appear in execution of their charge. Britain wi ll be returned to Iraq and not sold. Tessa Jowell , the British Secretary of State for Culture, ~ In October 2002 The Ar! Newspaper re­ announced on 15 April that she had written to ~ ported the launch oftheAmeri can Council colleagues in the UK Government reminding for Cultural Policy (ACCP), whi ch has 45 advi­ them that under UN Resolutions it is illegal to sors, including lawyers fro m major museums, and import Iraqi antiquities into the UK. However, aims to advise on aspects of US legislation as it by the 29 April it was possible to di scern a weak­ relates to the art trade. Members of the ACCP ening of resolve when in a DCMS press release met w ith the US De partme nts of State and the Secretary of State made no mention of Gov­ Defense in January 2004 and soon found them­ ernment plans to impose an embargo on trade, selves embroiled in a public debate over what and on the 8 May the Government spokesperson exactly did or did not represent ACCP poli cy as in the House of Lords announced only that the regards Iraq 's antiquities laws. This debate was Government have alerted Customs of the need rather tiresome, as it drew attention away ii·om to enforce the current embargo. more serious policy shortfalls, and could have At the time of writing ( 12 May) there have been avoided. The problem is that nobody reall y been no reports of British police or customs of­ knows what are th e aims ofthe ACCP, what is its fic ers seizing any Iraqi artefacts of unknown membership, and what is its funding base.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Antiquities Were One of the Most Important Elements of the Collection That Mr
    DATE: March 12, 2007 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE COLLECTIONS ART FROM THE ANCIENT WORLD IS INSTALLED BY THEME IN RENOVATED GALLERIES AT THE GETTY VILLA LOS ANGELES—The J. Paul Getty Museum’s permanent collection of Greek, Roman, and Etruscan antiquities will be installed at the Getty Villa in galleries that are now organized by theme for easier accessibility. These groupings of objects will shed light on different aspects of life in the ancient world: from sports to religion, family, war, theater, and more. This approach enables visitors to easily view the artworks in the context of their use in classical societies, encouraging a deeper understanding of the period. Over 1,200 objects will be on view, out of approximately 44,000 in the Getty’s antiquities collection. The works will be presented in 23 galleries, with an additional six galleries devoted to changing and loan exhibitions that will allow for the presentation of focused shows, often featuring materials on loan from other institutions. These exhibitions may also incorporate works from the special collections of the Research Library at the Getty Research Institute (GRI) and reflect the scholarly activities of the Museum, the GRI, and the Getty Conservation Institute. Other highlights of the Museum include the Family Forum, a hands-on space for families filled with fun activities that encourage shared learning and discovery; and -more- Page 2 the TimeScape Room, a permanent installation that explores time, place, and artistic style in the ancient Mediterranean through interactive exhibits. FLOOR 1 GALLERIES Terracotta and Marble Vessels Ancient artisans shaped terracotta and marble to imitate the shapes and decorative schemes of vessels fashioned from metal, including precious gold, silver, and bronze.
    [Show full text]
  • Donna Yates CV Oct 2020
    Donna Yates Maastricht University Faculty of Law, PO Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands Office: +31433885617 Email: [email protected] traffickingculture.org culturecrime.org stolengods.org anonymousswisscollector.com Education PhD, Archaeology, University of Cambridge, 2012 Dissertation: Archaeological Practice and Political Change: Transitions and Transformations in the Use of the Past in Nationalist, Neoliberal and Indigenous Bolivia MPhil, Archaeological Heritage and Museums, University of Cambridge, 2006 Thesis: South America on the Block: The changing face of Pre-Columbian antiquities auctions in response to international law BA, Archaeology, Boston University, 2004 Academic Appointments Maastricht University, Faculty of Law 2020– Associate Professor of Cultural Heritage Law and Criminology Department of Criminal Law and Criminology University of Glasgow, School of Social and Political Sciences 2015–2019 Senior Lecturer in Sociology (Antiquities Trafficking and Art Crime) 2012–2015 Leverhulme Early Career Fellow Affiliations Maastricht Centre for Arts and Culture, Conservation and Heritage (MACCH) Affiliated Researcher Maastricht University Law and Tech Lab Member Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research (SCCJR) Associate Researcher University of Glasgow, Department of Information Studies Affiliated Scholar University of Glasgow, Department of Archaeology Affiliated Scholar Research Interests • Illicit trafficking of cultural, collectable, and rare objects • Heritage and museum studies • Cultural property
    [Show full text]
  • Geochemicaljournal,Vol.28,Pp. 173To 184,1994 C H
    GeochemicalJournal,Vol.28,pp. 173to 184,1994 C h em ic al c h a r acters of cr ater la k es in th e A z o res a n d Italy: th e a n o m aly o f L a k e A lb a n o M ARlNO M ARTlNl,1 L UCIANO GIANNINl,1 FRANCO PRATI,1 FRANCO TASSI,l B RUNO CAPACCIONl2 and PAOLO IOZZELL13 IDepartm ent ofEarth Sciences,U niversity ofFlorence, 50121 Florence,Italy 2lnstitute ofV olcanology and G eochemistry, University ofUrbino, 61029 Urbino,Italy 3Departm ent ofPharm aceutical Sciences, University ofFlorence,50121 Florence,Italy (Received April23, 1993,･Accepted January 10, 1994) Investigations have been carried out on craterlakesin areas ofrecent volcanism in the A zores and in Italy, with the aim of detecting possible evidence of residual anom alies associated with past volcanic activities;data from craterlakes ofCam eroon have been considered for com parison. A m ong the physical- chem ical ch aracters taken into account, the increases of tem perature, am m onium and dissolved carbon dioxide with depth are interp reted as providing inform ation aboutthe contribution of endogene fluidsto the lake w ater budgets. The greater extent of such evidence at Lakes M onoun and N yos (Cam eroon) appears associated withthe disastersthatoccurred there duringthe lastdecade;som e sim ilarities observed atLake Albano (Italy)suggesta potentialinstability also forthis craterlake. parison. W ith reference to the data collected so INTRODUCT ION far and considering the possibility that the actual Crater lakes in active volcanic system s have chem ical characters ofcrater lakes are influenced been investigated with reference to change s oc- by residualtherm al anom alies in the hosting vol- curing in w ater chem istry in response to different canic system s, an effort has been m ade to verify stages of activity, and interesting inform ation is w hether and to w hat extent these anom alies can available about R u apehu (Giggenbach, 1974), be revealed by sim ple observations.
    [Show full text]
  • The Routes of Taste
    THE ROUTES OF TASTE Journey to discover food and wine products in Rome with the Contribution THE ROUTES OF TASTE Journey to discover food and wine products in Rome with the Contribution The routes of taste ______________________________________ The project “Il Camino del Cibo” was realized with the contribution of the Rome Chamber of Commerce A special thanks for the collaboration to: Hotel Eden Hotel Rome Cavalieri, a Waldorf Astoria Hotel Hotel St. Regis Rome Hotel Hassler This guide was completed in December 2020 The routes of taste Index Introduction 7 Typical traditional food products and quality marks 9 A. Fruit and vegetables, legumes and cereals 10 B. Fish, seafood and derivatives 18 C. Meat and cold cuts 19 D. Dairy products and cheeses 27 E. Fresh pasta, pastry and bakery products 32 F. Olive oil 46 G. Animal products 48 H. Soft drinks, spirits and liqueurs 48 I. Wine 49 Selection of the best traditional food producers 59 Food itineraries and recipes 71 Food itineraries 72 Recipes 78 Glossary 84 Sources 86 with the Contribution The routes of taste The routes of taste - Introduction Introduction Strengthening the ability to promote local production abroad from a system and network point of view can constitute the backbone of a territorial marketing plan that starts from its production potential, involving all the players in the supply chain. It is therefore a question of developing an "ecosystem" made up of hospitality, services, products, experiences, a “unicum” in which the global market can express great interest, increasingly adding to the paradigms of the past the new ones made possible by digitization.
    [Show full text]
  • Lake Water Quality for Human Use and Tourism in Central Italy (Rome)
    Water and Society IV 229 LAKE WATER QUALITY FOR HUMAN USE AND TOURISM IN CENTRAL ITALY (ROME) EDOARDO CALIZZA1, FEDERICO FIORENTINO1, GIULIO CAREDDU1, LORETO ROSSI1,2 & MARIA LETIZIA COSTANTINI1,2 1Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy 2 CoNISMa, Italy ABSTRACT The lakes in the Italian region of Lazio, and in particular Lake Bracciano, have suffered due to reduced rainfall during the most recent years (1264.8 mm in 2014 vs 308.4 mm in 2015 and 883.6 mm in 2016 in Lake Bracciano). Moreover, Lake Bracciano exhibits both a direct water withdrawal (as drinkable water for the city of Rome and several other towns), and an indirect one, by the groundwaters, for agriculture. The 1.5 m water reduction, never observed in the last two decades, bared over 10 m of the littoral zone with the consequent exposition of gravel shores, trashes and reduction of the bottom areas involved in the denitrification process. This condition poses a threat to the ecosystem and to the human profits in term of eutrophication, healthy water loss, ship handling difficulties, touristic boats included, and tourism decline. In a previous investigation, we sampled the epilithic algae in the littoral zone of Lake Bracciano and estimated their nitrogen isotopic signature (δ15N). We highlighted the presence of diffuse organic and inorganic nitrogen inputs not intercepted by the wastewater collection system. These inputs, in synergy with water-level reduction, are able to undermine the ecosystem structure and health. In this paper, we show the nitrogen isotopic signatures, and their sources, as euros gained by parking meters for non-residents.
    [Show full text]
  • C HAPTER THREE Dissertation I on the Waters and Aqueducts Of
    Aqueduct Hunting in the Seventeenth Century: Raffaele Fabretti's De aquis et aquaeductibus veteris Romae Harry B. Evans http://www.press.umich.edu/titleDetailDesc.do?id=17141, The University of Michigan Press C HAPTER THREE Dissertation I on the Waters and Aqueducts of Ancient Rome o the distinguished Giovanni Lucio of Trau, Raffaello Fabretti, son of T Gaspare, of Urbino, sends greetings. 1. introduction Thanks to your interest in my behalf, the things I wrote to you earlier about the aqueducts I observed around the Anio River do not at all dis- please me. You have in›uenced my diligence by your expressions of praise, both in your own name and in the names of your most learned friends (whom you also have in very large number). As a result, I feel that I am much more eager to pursue the investigation set forth on this subject; I would already have completed it had the abundance of waters from heaven not shown itself opposed to my own watery task. But you should not think that I have been completely idle: indeed, although I was not able to approach for a second time the sources of the Marcia and Claudia, at some distance from me, and not able therefore to follow up my ideas by surer rea- soning, not uselessly, perhaps, will I show you that I have been engaged in the more immediate neighborhood of that aqueduct introduced by Pope Sixtus and called the Acqua Felice from his own name before his ponti‹- 19 Aqueduct Hunting in the Seventeenth Century: Raffaele Fabretti's De aquis et aquaeductibus veteris Romae Harry B.
    [Show full text]
  • ENG – Generalate News Update
    ATE FDNSC GENERALATE – NEWS UPDATE May 2016 From the desk of the Congregational Leader “The local community is the living expression of the Congregation.” (FDNSC Constitutions 40) Continue building life-giving communities - This is a recommendation of our 19th General Chapter. Here is the full text: In our desire to continue to build life-giving communities, we are called to say yes to Jesus, to positive thinking, joy and hope and no to negativity, pessimism and despondency. We appreciate the potential of technology and the communications media and seek opportunities to use these for evangelisation. We are grateful that they open the world to us and enable us to be in solidarity with all peoples, especially with our sisters and the members of the wider Chevalier Family. We reject the misuse of technology and recognise the detrimental impact that it can have on our persons and on our communities. “Let us not allow ourselves to be robbed of community!” (EG 92) Notice that it is within the context of community life and mission that we are invited to appreciate what technology offers us. In addition, we are strongly warned against the abuse and misuse of technology and how it can disconnect us from one another. We are living in a quickly changing society. Technology is changing faster than we can handle it, faster than we can explore opportunities for its use, and faster than we can calculate its risk and its detrimental influence on our lives, personally and as a community. It has been said that the world is becoming time-poor (as if there is not enough time for everything) and therefore we are becoming more impatient.
    [Show full text]
  • Acea Spa Financial Statements Acea Group Spa Consolidated Financial Statements
    Acea SpA fi nancial statements Acea Group SpA consolidated fi nancial statements 2008 Acea SpA financial statements Acea Group SpA consolidated financial statements 2008 2008 Acea SpA financial statements Acea Group SpA consolidated financial statements Acea SpA Registered office Piazzale Ostiense 2 – 00154 Rome Share capital 1,098,898,884 euros, fully paid-up Tax code, VAT number and Rome Companies’ Register no. 05394801004 Registered in Rome at REA no. 882486 Prepared by Planning and Finance Editorial coordination External Relations and Communication Graphic design, editing and copyediting Message Photographs Acea archives Fabio Anghelone Printed by Primaprint Printed in April 2009 Contents Management report on operations The Acea Group 12 Other information 63 Acea SpA share price Management performance 63 Shareholdings of directors Medium/long-term incentive and statutory auditors 14 schemes 65 Corporate Governance 16 Executive Responsible for Financial Reporting 65 Powers of the Board of Directors, Third tariff cycle 66 the Chairman and Chief Executive Antitrust Authority investigation Officer of Acea SpA and the of the acquisition of Publiacqua 67 Executive Responsible for Financial Reporting 17 Events after 31 December 2008 68 Chairman’s statement 19 Risks and uncertainties 69 Acea Group financial highlights Regulatory risk 69 for 2008 23 Legislative risk 72 Strategic risk 73 Group operating review 23 Operational risk 75 Energy networks 23 Litigation risk 76 Electricity transmission 24 Service quality 25 Outlook 80 Energy services,
    [Show full text]
  • The Trade in Art and Antiquities
    1 The Trade in Art and Antiquities JANET ULPH I Introduction 1.01 Introduction Art and antiquities can be beautiful, fascinating and highly valuable. It is unsurprising that those in possession of such objects may find that others covet them. The focus of this text is upon the law relating to cultural objects which have been stolen, looted, or illegally exported, in recent times. These objects may be secretly exported from the original countries in which they were located in order to escape detection. They may be sold on the black market abroad or, where the object is not easily identifiable, offered openly in foreign markets. London is one of the prime locations in the world where there is a legitimate and healthy trade in works of art and antiquities. Unfortunately, stolen or looted objects may masquer- ade as legitimate purchases. This text will therefore discuss the dangers posed by the illicit trade in cultural objects, the risk that profits made will be used to further other criminal activities, and the strategies which could be employed to combat this trade. This will include an explanation of how the English criminal law, including money laundering meas- ures, applies to those who deal in cultural objects in a domestic or international setting. As the illicit trade in art and antiquities is one of the most lucrative in the world, the powers of law enforcement agencies to seize these objects will be explained. Trafficking in cultural objects, because it is a global trade, is difficult to suppress; consequently the efforts made by international bodies and governments to combat it must also be considered.
    [Show full text]
  • Collecting the World
    Large print text Collecting the World Please do not remove from this display Collecting the World Founded in 1753, the British Museum opened its doors to visitors in 1759. The Museum tells the story of human cultural achievement through a collection of collections. This room celebrates some of the collectors who, in different ways, have shaped the Museum over four centuries, along with individuals and organisations who continue to shape its future. The adjoining galleries also explore aspects of collecting. Room 1: Enlightenment tells the story of how, in the early Museum, objects and knowledge were gathered and classified. Room 2a: The Waddesdon Bequest, displays the collection of Renaissance and Baroque masterpieces left to the British Museum by Baron Ferdinand Rothschild MP at his death in 1898. Gallery plan 2 Expanding Horizons Room 1 Enlightenment Bequest Waddesdon The Room 2a 1 3 The Age Changing of Curiosity Continuity 4 Today and Tomorrow Grenville shop 4 Collecting the World page Section 1 6 The Age of Curiosity, 18th century Section 2 2 5 Expanding Horizons, 19th century Section 3 80 Changing Continuity, 20th century Section 4 110 Today and Tomorrow, 21st century Portraits at balcony level 156 5 Section 1 The Age of Curiosity, 18th century Gallery plan 2 Expanding Horizons 1 3 The Age Changing of Curiosity Continuity 4 Today and Tomorrow 6 18th century The Age of Curiosity The Age of Curiosity The British Museum was founded in 1753 as a place of recreation ‘for all studious and curious persons’. Its founding collection belonged to the physician Sir Hans Sloane (1660–1753).
    [Show full text]
  • Biblical Assyria and Other Anxieties in the British Empire Steven W
    James Madison University JMU Scholarly Commons Libraries Libraries & Educational Technologies 2001 Biblical Assyria and Other Anxieties in the British Empire Steven W. Holloway James Madison University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: http://commons.lib.jmu.edu/letfspubs Part of the European Languages and Societies Commons, Fine Arts Commons, Library and Information Science Commons, Literature in English, British Isles Commons, Near Eastern Languages and Societies Commons, and the Theory and Criticism Commons Recommended Citation “Biblical Assyria and Other Anxieties in the British Empire,” Journal of Religion & Society (http://moses.creighton.edu/jrs/2001/ 2001-12.pdf) This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Libraries & Educational Technologies at JMU Scholarly Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Libraries by an authorized administrator of JMU Scholarly Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Journal of Religion & Society Volume 3 (2001) ISSN 1522-5658 Biblical Assyria and Other Anxieties in the British Empire Steven W. Holloway, American Theological Library Association and Saint Xavier University, Chicago Abstract The successful “invasion” of ancient Mesopotamia by explorers in the pay of the British Museum Trustees resulted in best-selling publications, a treasure-trove of Assyrian antiquities for display purposes and scholarly excavation, and a remarkable boost to the quest for confirmation of the literal truth of the Bible. The public registered its delight with the findings through the turnstyle- twirling appeal of the British Museum exhibits, and a series of appropriations of Assyrian art motifs and narratives in popular culture - jewelry, bookends, clocks, fine arts, theater productions, and a walk-through Assyrian palace among other period mansions at the Sydenham Crystal Palace.
    [Show full text]
  • Chapter Eight Where Art and Nature Play: the Sarah Campbell Blaffer Foundation Curiosity Cabinet James Clifton
    CHAPTER EIGHT WHERE ART AND NATURE PLAY: THE SARAH CAMPBELL BLAFFER FOUNDATION CURIOSITY CABINET JAMES CLIFTON The Sarah Campbell Blaffer Foundation owns, develops, and manages a collection of early modern European art (from roughly 1500 to 1800), much of which has been exhibited in five dedicated galleries at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (MFAH) since 2000.1 Although the primary focus of the collection has always been on paintings, the foundation has since 2008 collected objects for a curiosity cabinet, beginning with an ebony writing desk (Schreibtisch) or house altar (Hausaltar) made in Augsburg in 1601, with paintings attributed to Anton Mozart (Fig. 8-1).2 In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, European princes, wealthy collectors, natural philosophers, and learned societies created so-called curiosity cabinets (or cabinets of curiosities), also known in German as Kunst- und Wunderkammern (chambers of art and wonder). Benefitting from the voyages of explorers and the development of international commerce networks that spanned the globe, they gathered intriguing, exotic, 1 On the history of the foundation and its collection, see James Clifton, “A History of the Sarah Campbell Blaffer Foundation,” in A Golden Age of European Art: Celebrating Fifty Years of the Sarah Campbell Blaffer Foundation, eds. James Clifton and Melina Kervandjian (Houston: The Sarah Campbell Blaffer Foundation, 2016), 11-41. 2 On the Schreibtisch, the Christian iconography of whose paintings is unusual, see James Clifton, “‘Verbum Domini manet in eternum’: Devotional Cabinets and Kunst- und Wunderkammern around 1600,” in The Primacy of the Image in Northern European Art, 1400-1700: Essays in Honor of Larry Silver, ed.
    [Show full text]