The Medici Dossier and the Allard Pierson Museum

Image of Siana cup fragments
from Medici Dossier. Source: nrc.nl

Christos Tsirogiannis, Associate Professor at the University of Aarhus, has identified a Siana cup currently in the Allard Pierson Museum in Amsterdam with images from the Medici Dossier (BAPD 16323). The cup, attributed to the Ainipylos painter, shows Aineas conversing. It surfaced at Sotheby's in London in an auction on 18 July 1985, lot 513. The sales in 1985 have yield other examples of toxic antiquities. 

The cup was placed on loan in the museum (inv. B 11.999). What is more interesting is that an additional fragment was supplied by Herbert Cahn (inv. 13.247; formerly HC 1468). The Medici polaroids show the cup in fragments as well as in a restored form. How did Cahn acquire his fragment?

The Allard Pierson Museum will no doubt be arranging the return of this cup to Italy.

Theo Toebosch, "Illegale vaas in collectie van Allard Pierson museum", nrc.nl 22 January 2021.

Theo Toebosch, "Verdachte achtergrond: dubieuze objecten in museum Allard Pierson", nrc.nl 22 January 2021