Antiquities are objects from antiquity, especially the civilizations of the Mediterranean: the Classical antiquity of Greece and Rome, Ancient Egypt and the other Ancient Near Eastern cultures. Artifacts from earlier periods such as the Mesolithic, and other civilizations from Asia and elsewhere may also be covered by the term. The phenomenon of giving a high value to ancient artifacts is found in other cultures, notably China, where Chinese ritual bronzes, three to two thousand years old, have been avidly collected and imitated for centuries, and the Pre-Columbian cultures of Mesoamerica, where in particular the artifacts of the earliest Olmec civilization are found reburied in significant sites of later cultures up to the Spanish Conquest.[1]
The definition of the term is not always precise, and institutional definitions such as museum "Departments of Antiquities" often cover later periods, but in normal usage Gothic objects, for example, would not now be described as antiquities, though in 1700 they might well have been, as the cut-off date for antiquities has tended to retreat since the word was first found in English in 1513. Non-artistic artifacts are now less likely to be called antiquities than in earlier periods. Francis Bacon wrote in 1605: "Antiquities are history defaced, or some remnants of history which have casually escaped the shipwreck of time".
The art trade reflects modern usage of the term; Christie's "Department of Antiquities" covers objects "from the dawn of civilization to the Dark Ages, ranging from Western Europe to the Caspian Sea, embracing the cultures of Egypt, Greece, Rome and the Near East."[2]Bonhams use a similar definition: "...4000 B.C to the 12th Century A.D. Geographically they originate from Egypt, the Near East and Europe ..."[3] Official cut-off dates are often later, being unconcerned with precise divisions of art history, and using the term for all historical periods they wish to protect: in Jordan it is 1750,[4] in Hong Kong 1800, and so on.
The term is no longer much used in formal academic discussion, because of this imprecision. However, a recent attempt to standardise this and other terms has been carried out.[5] Most, but not all, antiquities have been recovered by archaeology. There is little or no overlap with antiques, which covers objects, not generally discovered as a result of archaeology, at most about three hundred years old, and usually far less.
The sense of antiquitates, the idea that a civilization could be recovered by a systematic exploration of its relics and material culture, in the sense used by Varro and reflected in Josephus' Antiquities of the Jews was lost during the Middle Ages, when ancient objects were collected with other appeals, the rarity or strangeness of their materials or simply because they were thought to be endowed with magical or miraculous powers.[6] Precious cameos and other antique carved gems might be preserved when incorporated into crowns and diadems and liturgical objects,[7] consular ivory diptychs by being used as gospel covers. Roman columns could be re-erected in churches.[8]sarcophagi could receive new occupants and cinerary urns could function as holy water stoups. Sculptural representations of the human form, feared and reviled as "idols" could be rehabilitated by reidentifying their subjects: the equestrian bronze Marcus Aurelius of the Campidoglio was respected as a representation of the Christian emperor Constantine, and in Pavia the Regisole acquired a civic role that preserved it. In Rome the Roman bronze Spinario was admired for itself by the guidebook writer Magister Gregorius. The classicism of the Carolingian renaissance was in part inspired by appreciation of Late Antique manuscripts: the Utrecht Psalter attempts to recreate such a Late Antique original, both in its handwriting and its illustrations.[9]
Many museums hold these artifacts and keep them safe so that we have access to the knowledge they hold about the past. On September 2 the National Museum of Brazil was engulfed in flames. This event caused many artifacts to be lost forever.[10]
The export of antiquities is now heavily controlled by law in almost all countries and by the 1970 UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property,[11] but a large and increasing trade in Illicit antiquities continues. The Euphronios Krater is an apparent example that has come to light.[12] Another example is the ambiguous legal case concerning the Getty Museum's "Bronze Statue of a Victorious Youth".[13] The field has been further complicated by the trade in Archaeological forgeries, such as the Etruscan terracotta warriors, the Persian Princess,[14] and the Getty kouros.
^HORTOLÀ, Policarp (1 December 2017). "From antiquities to memorabilia: a standardised terminology for ancestral artefacts according to manufacture date". Studia Antiqua et Archaeologica. 23 (2). Retrieved 13 April 2018.
^Roberto Weiss, 1969. The Renaissance Discovery of Classical Antiquity, p. 2ff.
^"Lessons from the destruction of the National Museum of Brazil". The Economist. Retrieved 2018-09-12.
^"Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property". Unesco.org. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
^Brodie, Neil. "Euphronios (Sarpedon) Krater". Retrieved 21 August 2012.
^"The "Bronze Statue of a Victorious Youth"". illicit-cultural-property.blogspot.co.uk. 2 March 2007. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
^Brodie, Neil. "Persian Mummy". Retrieved 21 August 2012.
January 30, 2023
antiquities, other, uses, disambiguation, objects, from, antiquity, especially, civilizations, mediterranean, classical, antiquity, greece, rome, ancient, egypt, other, ancient, near, eastern, cultures, artifacts, from, earlier, periods, such, mesolithic, othe. For other uses see Antiquities disambiguation Antiquities are objects from antiquity especially the civilizations of the Mediterranean the Classical antiquity of Greece and Rome Ancient Egypt and the other Ancient Near Eastern cultures Artifacts from earlier periods such as the Mesolithic and other civilizations from Asia and elsewhere may also be covered by the term The phenomenon of giving a high value to ancient artifacts is found in other cultures notably China where Chinese ritual bronzes three to two thousand years old have been avidly collected and imitated for centuries and the Pre Columbian cultures of Mesoamerica where in particular the artifacts of the earliest Olmec civilization are found reburied in significant sites of later cultures up to the Spanish Conquest 1 A centaur struggling with a Lapith on a metope from the Parthenon in the British Museum London part of the Elgin Marbles An Assyrian lamassu in the Louvre Chinese ritual wine server guang circa 1100 BC A person who studies antiquities as opposed to just collecting them is often called an antiquarian Contents 1 Definition 2 History 3 Illegal trading 4 See also 5 ReferencesDefinition EditThe definition of the term is not always precise and institutional definitions such as museum Departments of Antiquities often cover later periods but in normal usage Gothic objects for example would not now be described as antiquities though in 1700 they might well have been as the cut off date for antiquities has tended to retreat since the word was first found in English in 1513 Non artistic artifacts are now less likely to be called antiquities than in earlier periods Francis Bacon wrote in 1605 Antiquities are history defaced or some remnants of history which have casually escaped the shipwreck of time The art trade reflects modern usage of the term Christie s Department of Antiquities covers objects from the dawn of civilization to the Dark Ages ranging from Western Europe to the Caspian Sea embracing the cultures of Egypt Greece Rome and the Near East 2 Bonhams use a similar definition 4000 B C to the 12th Century A D Geographically they originate from Egypt the Near East and Europe 3 Official cut off dates are often later being unconcerned with precise divisions of art history and using the term for all historical periods they wish to protect in Jordan it is 1750 4 in Hong Kong 1800 and so on The term is no longer much used in formal academic discussion because of this imprecision However a recent attempt to standardise this and other terms has been carried out 5 Most but not all antiquities have been recovered by archaeology There is little or no overlap with antiques which covers objects not generally discovered as a result of archaeology at most about three hundred years old and usually far less History Edit Allegories of five literatures of antiquity relief at Cardiff Castle by Thomas Nicholls circa 1870 The sense of antiquitates the idea that a civilization could be recovered by a systematic exploration of its relics and material culture in the sense used by Varro and reflected in Josephus Antiquities of the Jews was lost during the Middle Ages when ancient objects were collected with other appeals the rarity or strangeness of their materials or simply because they were thought to be endowed with magical or miraculous powers 6 Precious cameos and other antique carved gems might be preserved when incorporated into crowns and diadems and liturgical objects 7 consular ivory diptychs by being used as gospel covers Roman columns could be re erected in churches 8 sarcophagi could receive new occupants and cinerary urns could function as holy water stoups Sculptural representations of the human form feared and reviled as idols could be rehabilitated by reidentifying their subjects the equestrian bronze Marcus Aurelius of the Campidoglio was respected as a representation of the Christian emperor Constantine and in Pavia the Regisole acquired a civic role that preserved it In Rome the Roman bronze Spinario was admired for itself by the guidebook writer Magister Gregorius The classicism of the Carolingian renaissance was in part inspired by appreciation of Late Antique manuscripts the Utrecht Psalter attempts to recreate such a Late Antique original both in its handwriting and its illustrations 9 Many museums hold these artifacts and keep them safe so that we have access to the knowledge they hold about the past On September 2 the National Museum of Brazil was engulfed in flames This event caused many artifacts to be lost forever 10 Illegal trading Edit The Euphronios Krater has been returned to Italy by the Metropolitan Museum The export of antiquities is now heavily controlled by law in almost all countries and by the 1970 UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property 11 but a large and increasing trade in Illicit antiquities continues The Euphronios Krater is an apparent example that has come to light 12 Another example is the ambiguous legal case concerning the Getty Museum s Bronze Statue of a Victorious Youth 13 The field has been further complicated by the trade in Archaeological forgeries such as the Etruscan terracotta warriors the Persian Princess 14 and the Getty kouros See also EditAncient artReferences Edit http artworld uea ac uk cms index php q node 873 Retrieved August 10 2012 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a Missing or empty title help dead link 1 Archived August 26 2014 at the Wayback Machine Antiquities Bonhams Retrieved 2014 08 25 2 Archived September 27 2007 at the Wayback Machine HORTOLA Policarp 1 December 2017 From antiquities to memorabilia a standardised terminology for ancestral artefacts according to manufacture date Studia Antiqua et Archaeologica 23 2 Retrieved 13 April 2018 Roberto Weiss 1969 The Renaissance Discovery of Classical Antiquity p 2ff The Cup of the Ptolemies was set in Carolingian precious mounting and preserved in the Basilica of Saint Denis Robert Weiss notes 1969 8 that Ionic columns from the Baths of Caracalla were used in Innocent II s rebuilding of Santa Maria in Trastevere 1139 Noted in this context by Roberto Weiss 1969 4 Lessons from the destruction of the National Museum of Brazil The Economist Retrieved 2018 09 12 Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property Unesco org Retrieved 22 November 2014 Brodie Neil Euphronios Sarpedon Krater Retrieved 21 August 2012 The Bronze Statue of a Victorious Youth illicit cultural property blogspot co uk 2 March 2007 Retrieved 13 April 2018 Brodie Neil Persian Mummy Retrieved 21 August 2012 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Antiquities amp oldid 1099816800, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
