At the end of March I contacted the local head of the ancient art department of a major international auction house. It appears that two pieces in a forthcoming sale appear to feature in two separate photographic archives seized in Switzerland. This brings into question the collecting history of one of the pieces, and confirms the nature of the 'Swiss private collection' of the other.
As the pieces continue to be on offer we can assume that the auction house has contacted the Italian authorities. Or is that too much to expect?
Uncertainties like this can only serve to undermine the Market.
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Discussion of the archaeological ethics surrounding the collecting of antiquities and archaeological material.
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