Wednesday, 1 October 2008

The Geddes Collection at Bonham's: A Puzzle

An Apulian squat lekythos (Bonham's, October 15, 2008, lot 158) from the Geddes collection will be 'Accompanied by a label from Christie's London, stating 16 November 1999, lot 451.' Yet the squat lekythos was on loan University of Melbourne from March 1995 to July 2003.

There were three London sales on November 16, 1999. Two were at King Street and one at South Kensington:
  • Chinese
  • Asian Export Art
  • Silver and Plated Wares
The sales do not have a lot 451.

So is the label totally irrelevant? Indeed, why was the label thought to be relevant? What does it say about the "due diligence" process?

Is there an innocent explanation?

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