Koutoulakis and due diligence

My latest column for the Journal of Art Crime reviews a number of antiquities that were handled by Nicolas Koutoulakis. This includes a group of 100 architectural terracottas from Cisterna di Latina that were returned to Italy, a marble herm, and a skyphos in Toledo. Museums would be wise to conduct a due diligence process on objects that were derived from the same source.

Gill, D. W. J. 2019. "Context matters: Nicolas Koutoulakis, the antiquities market and due diligence." Journal of Art Crime 22: 71–78.

Thefts from Archaeological Stores and Museums

One observable phenomenon in recent years has been that some recovered material was derived, not from an unexcavated archaeological site, but from archaeological museums and stores. This is explored in my latest column, 'Context Matters', for The Journal of Art Crime 20 (Fall 2018), entitled 'Thefts from museums and archaeological stores'. While many of the pieces come from collections in Italy, others are recorded from Greece, Egypt, and Libya. 

Journal of Art Crime 2017: overview

The latest number of the Journal of Art Crime 18 (Fall 2017) has been published. There are a number of papers relating to antiquities:

• Julia Weiler-Esser, The New German Act on the Protection of Cultural Property: A Better Protection For Archaeological Heritage in Germany and Abroad?, pp. 3-10
• Uche Uwaezuoke Okonkwo & Omon Merry Osiki, Global Art Traffi cking and the Nigerian Experience: A Historical Analysis, pp. 51-55
• Christos Tsirogiannis, Nekyia. Unethical Actions, Inactions and Reactions by the Museum and Market Community to the Seizure of the Met’s Python Krater, pp. 65-68.
• David W. J. Gill, Context Matters. Recently surfaced antiquities: ignoring the evidence?, pp. 69-73.
• Jehane Regai, Fake Art on the Rise in Egypt, pp. 75-79.
• Christos Tsirogiannis, The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Illicit Antiquities in New York, p. 81.
• David Gill reviews Tiffany Jenkins, Keeping Their Marbles: How the Treasures of the Past Ended up in Museums … And Why They Should Stay There, pp. 87-90.

Journal of Art Crime Fall 2015

The Fall 2015 number of the Journal of Art Crime vol. 14 has been published.

Readers of LM will be particularly interested in the following essays:

• Christos Tsirogiannis, 'Due diligence? Christie's Antiquities Auction, London, October 2015', pp. 27-38
• Francesco Rutelli, 'The return of iconoclasm: barbarian ideology and destruction by ISIS as a challenge for modern culture, not only for Islam', pp. 55-60
• David W. J. Gill, 'Context Matters. Malibu Memoirs: Marion True breaks silence', pp. 65-72
• Laurie Rush, 'The Carabinieri, peacekeeping and foreign relations: the Carabinieri mission to Iraq', pp. 73-80
• 'Stefano Alessandrini, Looting and passion of Greek vases from Etruria and Magna Graecia: the birth of the great collections', pp. 81-86

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Journal of Art Crime 2015 (Spring)

The Spring number of the Journal of Art Crime, edited by Noah Charney, is now available.

Here is the table of contents for the latest issue of this bi-annual publication listing the archaeological papers that will be of interest to readers of LM:

ACADEMIC ARTICLES

• Analyzing Criminality in the Market for Ancient Near Eastern Art by Ryan Casey 
• Damaging the Archaeological Record: The Lenborough Hoard by David Gill
• “But We Didn’t Steal It:” Collectors’ Justifications for Purchasing Looted Antiquities by Erin L. Thompson 

REGULAR COLUMNS

• Context Matters “From Palmyra to Mayfair: The Movement of Antiquities from Syria and Northern Iraq” by David Gill 
• Nekyia “Duplicates and the Antiquities Market” by Christos Tsirogiannis 

EDITORIAL ESSAYS

• New Archaeological Discoveries and Cultural Ventures beyond War Threats: A Model of Excellence Stemming from Iraqi-Italian Cooperation by Francesca Coccolo 

REVIEWS

• Cultural Heritage Ethics: Between Theory and Practice Edited by Constantine Sandis Reviewed by Marc Balcells

Announcing news on Thanksgiving Day

Steinhardt Sardinian Figure
Source: Tsirogiannis / ARCA

The apparent removal of the Steinhardt Sardinian figure from auction at Christie's is timely. After all, today is Thanksgiving Day. Eight years ago, also in late November, the J. Paul Getty Museum announced the return of its first batch of material to Italy.

So perhaps it is a day to bury "bad news".

But what is surprising is that a major institution like Christie's has not absorbed the lessons of the last eight years in what has become known as "The Medici Conspiracy".

Academic researchers now realise that it is important to probe and investigate "collecting histories".

And we know that it is important to check the photographic archives that have been seized by the Italian authorities.

Staff in the "Ancient Art" department at Christie's need to adopt a more rigorous due diligence process to prevent this type of incident happening again. They ought to recognise that their present process is not "fit for purpose".

It is perhaps timely that my next essay in the 'Context Matters' series for the Journal of Art Crime is on this very theme.

Ric Elia Reflects on the Antiquities Market

Sofia Cecchi has interviewed Professor Ricardo Elia for the latest Journal of Art Crime (11, 2014, 85-86). Elia reveals that he first came across the issue of looting when he was excavating as a student in what is now FYROM. He reflects on his famous quote, "Collectors are the real looters". He comments on the weakness ("loophole big enough to drive a truck full of loot through") of the AAMD Guidelines over the acquisition of antiquities and ancient art.

He was asked about his quantitative study of Apulian pottery, and he finds claims made by Carlos Picon that acquisitions by New York's MMA are documented as "ridiculous". (It would have been interesting for Elia to have commented on Dyfri Williams' dismissal of his research.)

Elia is firm over the need to criminalize the looting of antiquities and calls for gaol terms and hefty fines.