Archaeo-Blogger Paul Barford and friends are busily promoting Daniel Grant's advocacy piece on the Huffington Post as yet another "well written" expose of the antiquities trade, museums and the need for provenance research. See http://paul-barford.blogspot.com/2011/04/antiquities-only-area-of-art-world-that.html and http://www.huffingtonpost.com/daniel-grant/antiquities-collecting-due-diligence_b_844838.html
The article features such luminaries from the archaeological world as Clemency Coggins, Ricardo Elia, and Professor Patty Gerstenblith.
Writers of such advocacy nonetheless often also contact representatives from the "other side"of an issue to give the piece "balance." And so Grant appears to have done based on the quotes from attorney Bill Pearlstein, who according to the article represents "the National Association of Dealers in Ancient and Oriental Art." There is, however, one problem. When I forwarded the article to Bill Pearlstein, he indicated he did not recall speaking to Grant. And, he has not represented the National Association of Dealers in Ancient, Oriental and Primitive Art for some five years. Is it possible that Grant used an old quote from somewhere else to provide perceived balance?
The Cultural Property Implementation Act: Is it Working?
The CPRI has placed the transcript of its seminar, "The Cultural Property Implementation Act: Is it Working?" on its website: http://www.cprinst.org/Home/issues/transcript---cultural-property-implementation-act-is-it-working
There are a lot of troubling allegations here, but to me one of the most disturbing is that CPAC is denied access to its own reports. If so, how can they and we be sure that CPAC's recommendations are conveyed to the decision maker accurately?
There are a lot of troubling allegations here, but to me one of the most disturbing is that CPAC is denied access to its own reports. If so, how can they and we be sure that CPAC's recommendations are conveyed to the decision maker accurately?
Guest Blogger: Fashion Files
On Friday Sara from A Dose of Pretty featured my most treasured accessories in her great new series called Fashion Files head over and have a look...
here's a little of what you can find:
here's a little of what you can find:
Return that Loot!
Egyptology Today (Egypttod.com) reports that world famous archaeologist Zani Hanass has turned down a reappointment to the post of Egypt�s Minister of Antiquities in order to host a new reality television show on the Discoverme Channel called, �Return that Loot!�
World Famous Archaeologist to Host �Return that Loot!�
Hollywood, California, April 1, 2011
World famous archaeologist Zani Hanass announced today that he has turned down reappointment as Egypt�s Minister of Antiquities, and instead will host a new reality television show on the Discoverme Channel called, �Return that Loot!� Each week Hanass will visit a different museum to tell the story about how an artifact was acquired for the collection. He will then poll an audience made up of archaeologists as to whether or not the artifact should be repatriated to its country of origin. To add both interest and authenticity to the show, guest stars dressed in period costume will assist Hanass with the polling and help tell the stories of each artifact. Hanass and Discoverme have declined to name who will appear on the program, but Egyptology Today has confirmed that one of the stars of Syfi�s �Stargrate� will be featured in the first episode.
�I�ve had my fill of those vipers in Egyptian politics,� said Hanass. He continued, �I�m already a world famous archaeologist, and now it�s time for me to become a world famous television personality.� Asked to comment, Gill Barmore, a spokesman for the archaeological advocacy group �Saving Antiquities from Everyone� was ecstatic. �Zani has promised us that SAFRE members will always be welcome in the audience for his new show. We�re already planning a road trip to Hollywood to see Zani take down his first museum. We hope he will soon expand his sights to individual collectors�though we realize he better be careful, one never knows which Hollywood mogul might have a XXIst Dynasty Sarcophagus in his living room,� said Barmore.
�Return that Loot!� is scheduled to begin production next month. The first episode will be aired on Discoverme on April 1, 1212.
World Famous Archaeologist to Host �Return that Loot!�
Hollywood, California, April 1, 2011
World famous archaeologist Zani Hanass announced today that he has turned down reappointment as Egypt�s Minister of Antiquities, and instead will host a new reality television show on the Discoverme Channel called, �Return that Loot!� Each week Hanass will visit a different museum to tell the story about how an artifact was acquired for the collection. He will then poll an audience made up of archaeologists as to whether or not the artifact should be repatriated to its country of origin. To add both interest and authenticity to the show, guest stars dressed in period costume will assist Hanass with the polling and help tell the stories of each artifact. Hanass and Discoverme have declined to name who will appear on the program, but Egyptology Today has confirmed that one of the stars of Syfi�s �Stargrate� will be featured in the first episode.
�I�ve had my fill of those vipers in Egyptian politics,� said Hanass. He continued, �I�m already a world famous archaeologist, and now it�s time for me to become a world famous television personality.� Asked to comment, Gill Barmore, a spokesman for the archaeological advocacy group �Saving Antiquities from Everyone� was ecstatic. �Zani has promised us that SAFRE members will always be welcome in the audience for his new show. We�re already planning a road trip to Hollywood to see Zani take down his first museum. We hope he will soon expand his sights to individual collectors�though we realize he better be careful, one never knows which Hollywood mogul might have a XXIst Dynasty Sarcophagus in his living room,� said Barmore.
�Return that Loot!� is scheduled to begin production next month. The first episode will be aired on Discoverme on April 1, 1212.
Urice and Adler Update on US Government Lawlessness in Cultural Property Field
Derek Fincham has posted the latest version of Urice and Adler's working paper examining the lawlessness of the U.S. Executive branch's approach to cultural property issues. See http://illicit-cultural-property.blogspot.com/2011/03/urice-and-adler-on-disjunction-between.html The ACCG Baltimore test case is discussed in the article as an example of the disconnect between what the law says and the practices of the State Department Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and US Customs.
Cultural Property and Antiquities Must Be Protected
Two Georgetown Law students have written this opinion piece for Georgetown Law Weekly. See http://www.gulawweekly.org/opinions/2011/3/29/cultural-property-and-antiquities-must-be-protected.html They state, Every time we turn on the news, members of Congress are railing about wasteful federal spending and the dire need to curb ineffective programs. Yet Monday, at a public meeting on the Hill about one of the most ineffective, and potentially illegal, federally-funded committees, not one Congressman, staff member, or reporter was present. [Note, there were at least two Congressional staff members present, but most of the audience were students of the field of cultural property law.] The Cultural Property Advisory Committee (CPAC) was established in 1983 by the Cultural Property Implementation Act to advise the Department of State on which art and artifacts should be restricted on import due to looting. The goal was to reduce looting of art and archaeological sites by cutting off the U.S. market, in accordance with a 1970 international treaty. CPIA was meant to transcend activism to strike a balance between the free trade in antiquities and ethical preservation of the world�s cultural heritage. But since its enactment, CPAC has been horrifically derailed. CPAC board members are archaeologists, historians, and other experts who understand the value of cultural heritage and are clearly interested in the United States� ethical treatment of international cultural property. It is a sorry and sour comment on the Department of State when CPAC�s own members, so dedicated to its mission, resign and call for the committee�s dissolution. Several former committee members, including a member who resigned just 21 days ago, told horror stories of inefficiency, secrecy, and outright illegality. For example, a former Chairman recalled a member sleeping through meetings, the Department of State blatantly ignoring CPAC�s votes and recommendations, and being denied access to the Committee�s own research and documents. As a result, the Department of State creates over inclusive trade restrictions that deny acquisitions to U.S. collectors and museums. Those works of art and archaeological artifacts, many with immeasurable monetary and educational value, simply go elsewhere, often to European markets with more precise but less restrictive import bans. The net effect? Turning away major investments during a recession, while wasting government money on a committee the Department of State ignores anyway. It may not be a �sexy� issue like health care or gay marriage, but protecting art and cultural property is an important goal, especially in light of the recent spread of armed conflict in some of the world�s most archaeologically rich Middle East regions. CPAC protects nothing but the Department of State�s unethical acts. Deborah Newburg, 2L, is a staff writer for the Law Weekly. Amanda Blunt, 2L, is a guest writer for the Law Weekly. Both are members of Students Against Looting Valuable Antiquities (SALVAGE).
What I like...
Just found this awesome stationary shop called sugar paper via the latest issue of Matchbook.
images via: matchbook video via: sugar paper
and I loved this video about their shop and the art of letterpress
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