August 23, 2000
CONTENTS:
IF IT IS LEGAL, IT IS NOT ALWAYS ETHICAL
Part 4 of a thread about a possible Italy - Australia connection smuggling antiquities, plus some additional, and relevant cases and information.
- introduction by your moderator
- Decency in supplying information: The Kimbell Art Museum, Fort Worth
- messages sent to the Museum Security mailinglist, July 6, August 9, August 11
- latest message by Michel van Rijn
- Royal Athena galleries guidelines for collecting ancient art (Not One Single Word About Provenance or Due Diligence!)
- fax to all parties involved
- Eskenazi and looted Chinese artifacts ??
- NOK statues and the Belgium dealer Deletaille
- Provenance and an USA dealer's catalogue (plus request for information)
- Final remarks: another invitation to work together; further steps to investigate this matter
Introduction by your moderator:
July 6 we received a message from Michel van Rijn inviting us to visit his website (http://www.michelvanrijn.com/ ). According to Mr. Van Rijn plenty of information would be available at his site about an antiquities smuggling connection between Italy and Australia. Several Australian dealers (Graham Geddes and Frank Bottaro) plus both major auction houses (Sotheby's and Christie's) supposedly were involved in this connection. I have tried to maintain a neutral position in this matter, and concentrated on informing the MSN subscribers about the availability of this challenging information on the internet. At the same I regarded it my responsibility to offer parties supposedly involved the MSN forum to present their opinion.
On numerous occasions I have asked both auction houses and the Australian dealer Graham Geddes for comments. The Australian dealer Frank Bottaro of B.C.Galleries was the first to react and instructed his lawyer to send me an 'intention to sue'. As I did write you August 9 this intention to sue was received by me as an intention to kill the messenger. Mr. Bottaro's lawyer appears to be a multi-talented professional, for in his letters to me he presents himself not only as a lawyer, but as prosecutor and judge as well! On several occasions I have offered Frank Bottaro our forum to express his opinion. I promised him to forward anything he wanted to write unedited.
Sotheby's legal department wrote me August 2 that they are aware of Mr. Van Rijn's accusations and suggested further comments on short notice. That was the last I heard of this organization. Christie's Australia wrote August 11 that Mr. Van Rijn's accusations are completely 'baseless'. My reply: "What will you do about these baseless accusations?" remained unanswered.
Since all of these parties supposedly involved in the illicit antiquities connection between Italy and Australia refuse to answer reasonable requests for comments I feel forced to dig further into these allegations myself. I expect to receive plenty of additional information that might give more insight in Mr. Van Rijn's accusations.
My starting point is the very strong conviction that all trade in antiquities without provenance, whether this is from the old world, central or south America, Asia or Africa is, if not illicit, in most cases not ethical. Dealers, museums, and private collectors all have a great responsibility in safeguarding these countries' cultural heritage and cross a border of respectability and responsibility if they do not care about the provenance of cultural objects.
Below you can read Mr. Van Rijn's latest message to the MSN mailinglist. Some of my faxes to Sotheby's, Christie's, Graham geddes, Frank Bottaro have been copied and pasted into today's mailing to.
Besides you can read faxes I have send to Eskenazi Ltd of london, and to Deletaille of Brussels, belgium (the dealers from who's TEFAF booth NOK statues were confiscated)
There also is a message I sent to John J. Ambrose, Director of Fragments of Time, 'Museum quality Ancient Art'.
However, today's message starts with a very fine example of open communication about the provenance of ancient art. The speed with which the Kimbell Art Museum replied my request for information should be an example to all those organizations and individuals lacking the decency to reply to reasonable requests.
Ton Cremers
DECENCY IN SUPPLYING INFORMATION
July 20 we sent the request below to the Kimbell Art museum:
To: grotolo@kimbellmuseum.org
Subject: request for provenance information
Dear Madam/Sir,
at: http://www.cnn.com/2000/STYLE/arts/07/19/kimbell.exhibit/index.html
The following information was found:
(CNN) -- The Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth, Texas, is showcasing two rare antiquities -- a Greek vase and a Roman bronze head -- that it recently acquired at auction.
We congratulate you with this unique acquisition! Would you please be so kind as to reveal the provenance information both auction houses gave you?
Your information will be very much appreciated.
Sincerely,
Ton Cremers
+++++++++++++On the same day the Kimbell Art Museum replied by sending a fax offering very extensive information about the provenance of both antiquities. A great example of open communication.+++++++++++++++++
Part 4 of a thread about a possible Italy - Australia connection smuggling antiquities
Part 1 was sent July 6:
Michel van Rijn, the final blow, smuggled antiquities whitewashed in Australia:
http://museum-security.org/00/107.html
Part 2 was sent August 9:
update: Final Blow Sotheby's Christies Antiquities (Moderator's comments)
http://museum-security.org/00/130.html
Part 3 was sent August 11:
- Re: Your fax 9th August (Van Rijn's allegations wholly baseless)
http://museum-security.org/00/133.html
Subject: update on allegations on Michel van Rijn website
From: info@michelvanrijn.com
Dear Mr. Cremers,
Allow me to share the following update with your subscribers.
Although today the MSN letter is one of the most respected instruments in the Art World, I couldn't help noticing that you have been ignored conc. the matters I brought forward. It's no news to me. Before going public with any allegation I make sure that I have sufficient evidence to back this up. May I kindly remind you of my successful court case in New York against the House of Wildenstein.
At the latest TEFAF (The European Fine Art Fair) in Maastricht, The Netherlands, I exposed three serious cracks in this so called monument of respectability. That can't be coincidence. My aid to the Nigerian Embassy during the Tefaf, resulted in several Nok statues seized from Mr. Emile DeLetaille. At the moment the Maastricht general attorney is preparing a criminal case against Mr. Deletaille.. That would be a triumph for African Art in general. It could set a precedent in the African Art World. I haven't finished here. Nok statues are out there by the hundreds! Dealing in NOK statues is robbing Nigeria of it's soul.
In their arrogance many of the Auction Houses and dealers have depicted looted and stolen art. The trace is there! The question is now, who will go at length to follow this up. Some highly respectable names of journalists come to mind. Of course this will not come as an easy success, it will include a lot of research.
In a world where the White House grants a seat on a Government Committee to a highly questionable collector as Mrs. Shelby White, the Sound of Silence, doesn't come as a surprise. By the way, I deal extensively with her and her husband on my site. One can only wonder, as the record leaves nothing to doubt, how she got these credentials.
Quote Lee Reid, president of the Association of Art Museum Directors and director of the Cleveland Museum of Art, who called her "uniquely qualified"; and Glen W. Bowersock, an internationally respected professor of ancient history at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, who said she would make "an admirable representative of the non professional community of collectors."
Unquote
During my under cover operations the last ten years, I had contact with various journalists. My new web-site http://www.michelvanrijn.com/ has not only been a thorn in the eyes of the likes of Mrs. Shelby, but also of many journalists in this field. Suddenly the journalists have found themselves cut off of major illegal events. I have various offers by some of the most respected names in the business, only if I would abstain from bringing the info forward trough my web. Probably this is debit to the fact, that also they ignored my info as ventilated by you.
The reputation of MSN is such, that I have found it necessary to give your subscribers an explanation. It's not the MSN, the guilty parties are avoiding. They can't afford to react. It would be my pleasure to deal in court with them, but also there The Sound of Silence.
sincerely yours,
michel van rijn
Royal Athena galleries guidelines for collecting ancient art:
http://www.royal-athena.com/PAGES/intropages/howtocollectancientart.html
(Not One Single Word About Provenance or Due Diligence !)
Sylvia Porter lists ten sound rules as a guide in art collecting:
1.Study the field which interests you as much as possible.
2.Buy cautiously at first.
3.Make sure that your work of art has quality.
4.Deal with a top gallery or art dealer. "Some dealers and major galleries will guarantee the authenticity of the art works they sell, so check this point as well." (Not only have we been guaranteeing our ancient art for over forty years, but to the best of our knowledge our two-day auction sale conducted by Parke-Bernet Galleries, now Sotheby's, in 1964 was the first auction sale by several years in which every piece was guaranteed - but by us!)
5.Have an understanding with your dealer or gallery about trading up - so he'll repurchase or resell your works as you have more money to invest in high quality art. (We normally allow full credit for the exchange or upgrading of objects purchased from us.)
6.Do not buy art works just because they are a current rage.
7.Ask the advice of museum directors or curators whenever possible.
8.Decide upon your investing limit before you buy. If you fall in love with a more expensive object try to arrange for a time payment. (We certainly encourage this and offer flexible time payments!)
9.Spread your financial risks by buying a variety of art unless you are expert in a particular field.
10.'Buy the best examples you can afford in any category.'
We would add another important rule: Do not buy objects that have been significantly restored. Beware of overly restored faces in both painting and sculpture.
addendum:
http://www.royal-athena.com/PAGES/greekcatpages/BLT06.html
Offered by Royal Athena Galleries:
ATTIC RED-FIGURE BELL KRATER BY THE KOMARIS PAINTER An ass pursues a nude satyr holding a torch in his left hand and a bough from which swings a full wineskin; flute playing satyr follows. Rev: Three youths.
Ca. 410 B.C.
H. 11 7/8" (30 cm.)
$47,500
Ex collection of Graham Geddes, Australia (fellow dealer as provenance.......)
fax sent to Christie's, Sotheby's, Graham Geddes, Frank Bottaro (B.C. Galleries) August 18, 2000:
Below you are informed about Mr. Van Rijn's most recent message to the Museum Security mailinglist. By now all of you should be perfectly aware of Mr. Van Rijn's accusations revealed at his website.
This far the Museum Security Network's has taken an objective position in this matter. Our information to the MSN subscribers has been accompanied by disclaimer messages, and we have invited our readers to make up their own mind in this matter.
We consider it our duty not only to inform our readers, but also at the same time enable all parties supposedly involved to present their comments. Our requests for comments have all been in vain, apart from a one-line message from Christies Australia stating that Mr. Van Rijn's accusations are 'baseless'. This is not only most disturbing, but at the same time leaves the impression that there really is 'something rotten in the state of Denmark' (i.c. Australia).
Mr. Van Rijn's most recent message will be forwarded to the Museum Security mailinglist Wednesday next week. We will add information for our readers about steps we took to invite all of you to present your views regarding this most serious matter (including this fax).
I want all of you to realize that your refusal to comment really is a refusal to inform 1300 specialized MSN subscribers worldwide.
Sincerely yours,
Ton Cremers
e-mail from Sotheby's legal department:
From: "Armstrong, Jonathan" jonathan.armstrong@sothebys.com
To: "'securma@xs4all.nl'" securma@xs4all.nl
Subject: RE: (Fwd) reposted request for information
Date: Wed, 2 Aug 2000 11:05:18 +0100
Dear Mr Cremers
Thank you for your e-mail, which I have forwarded to a colleague. We are aware of these latest allegations and I will let you know how we intend to react.
Regards
Jonathan Armstrong Legal Department
+++++++++This was the last I heard from Sotheby's++++++++++
e-mail from Christie's Australia plus my reply
From: "McIlroy, Roger" RMcIlroy@christies.com
To: "'museum-security@museum-security.org'"
Cc: "McVinish, Andrew" AMcVinish@christies.com
"Gordon, Richard" RGordon@christies.com
Subject: Re: Your fax 9th August
Date: Fri, 11 Aug 2000 04:39:21 +0100
Dear Mr Cremers,
In response to your fax of 9th August, the allegations against Christie's raised by Mr Van Rijn are wholly baseless.
Roger McIlroy Chairman and Managing Director, Christie's Australia
+++++++++This was the last I heard from Christie's++++++++++
To: "McIlroy, Roger" RMcIlroy@christies.com
Subject: Re: Your fax 9th August
Cc: "McVinish, Andrew" AMcVinish@christies.com, "Gordon, Richard" RGordon@christies.com
Date: Fri, 11 Aug 2000 06:35:57
Dear Mr. McIlroy,
Thank you for your, unfortunately extremely short, reaction. Mr. Van Rijn's accusations are very challenging. Since they are 'baseless': does Christie's intend to take legal steps against what seem to be libelous statements.?
sincerely,
Ton Cremers
+++++++++++this e-mail remained without reply+++++++++++
FAX TO ALL PARTIES SUPPOSEDLY INVOLVED:
MUSEUM SECURITY NETWORK Rechter Rottekade 171 3032 XD Rotterdam
The Netherlands Phone and fax: 31 10 4653837 Cellular: 31 10 6 24224620
E-mail: museum-security@museum-security.org
http://museum-security.org http://artcrime.ws/
FAX, 3 pages
Friday, 18 August 2000
Christie's Australia Fax: (61 3) 9820 4876
Sotheby's, Legal Department Attention of JONATHAN ARMSTRONG Fax: 001 847 236 5462
Graham Geddes Antiques, Australia Fax: 03 9509 5590
B. C. Galleries, (Frank Bottaro) Australia Fax: 1602 61 3 9852 0264
Below you are informed about Mr. Van Rijn's most recent message to the Museum Security mailinglist. By now all of you should be perfectly aware of Mr. Van Rijn's accusations revealed at his website.
This far the Museum Security Network's has taken an objective position in this matter. Our information to the MSN subscribers has been accompanied by disclaimer messages, and we have invited our readers to make up their own mind in this matter.
We consider it our duty not only to inform our readers, but also at the same time enable all parties supposedly involved to present their comments. Our requests for comments have all been in vain, apart from a one-line message from Christies Australia stating that Mr. Van Rijn's accusations are 'baseless'. This is not only most disturbing, but at the same time leaves the impression that there really is 'something rotten in the state of Denmark' (i.c. Australia).
Mr. Van Rijn's most recent message will be forwarded to the Museum Security mailinglist Wednesday next week. We will add information for our readers about steps we took to invite all of you to present your views regarding this most serious matter (including this fax).
I want all of you to realize that your refusal to comment really is a refusal to inform 1300 specialized MSN subscribers worldwide.
Sincerely yours,
Ton Cremers Museum Security Network
++++++++++neither of the adressees did reply++++++++++++
Second Fax to antiquities Belgium dealer DELETAILLE about confiscated NOK statues
MUSEUM SECURITY NETWORK Rechter Rottekade 171 3032 XD Rotterdam
The Netherlands Phone and fax: 31 10 4653837 Cellular: 31 10 6 24224620
e-mail: museum-security@museum-security.org
http://museum-security.org
FAX NUMBER OF PAGE(S) : 2
Wednesday, 26 July 2000
Wednesday, 02 August 2000
REPEATED REQUEST / HERHAALD VERZOEK
LIN & EMILE DELETAILLE 30, rue aux Laines, 1000 Brussels, Belgium Telephone 32 2 512 97 73 Fax 32 2 514 42 65
Dear Lin & Emile Deletaille,
At the TEFAF, March this year, Nigerian Nok statues shown in your booth were confiscated. Several Museum Security Mailing list subscribers have been inquiring about the whereabouts of these statues. Will you please be so kind as to update us about these statues' story. Were they sent back to Nigeria; were you allowed to keep them; has there been a legal procedure; is a legal procedure still pending? Your comments on this matter will be very much appreciated.
For your information: The Museum Security Network consists of a website and mailinglist. At the moment the mailinglist has over 1300 subscribers worldwide, ranging from museum directors and curators, specialized law officials and journalist, (international) police organizations, universities, private collectors, radio and television broadcast stations, (international) organizations active in the field of recovery of stolen art. The on line database of information about incidents with cultural property at the moment contains over 25 Megs.
The website statistics show some 60.000 page requests per month.
It really would be a pity if we cannot send our subscribers any more information about this Nok statues affair other than that the dealer involved in this matter does not provide us with any information. If you are not able to provide this information, names of individuals or organizations that can provide information will be most welcome!
I do hope to hear from you on short notice.
Sincerely,
Ton Cremers Museum Security Network
+++++++++++Both faxes to Deletaille remained unanswerd++++++++++++
Second fax to Eskanzi Ltd, Clifford Street, london, UK (August 18 we did send a third request for information)
MUSEUM SECURITY NETWORK Rechter Rottekade 171 3032 XD Rotterdam
The Netherlands Phone and fax: 31 10 4653837 Cellular: 31 10 6 24224620
e-mail: museum-security@museum-security.org
http://museum-security.org
FAX NUMBER OF PAGES : 1 Tuesday, 25 July 2000
Eskenazi Ltd 10 Clifford Street, London W1X 1RB Tel: 0171-493 5464;
Fax: 1644441714993136
REPEATED REQUEST FOR COMMENTS: Monday, 14 August 2000
Dear Sir,
It has come to my attention that at: http://www.michelvanrijn.com/UK_0a_001_03.htmnegative reference is being made to your gallery's activities:
"Chinese artefacts, smuggled by Eskenazi... shown at Gallery of former Nazi Collaborator Wildenstein"
and:
"Because the facts were already known to the Chinese Government, who were already looking aggressively to the Miho collection... the devastating truth is that the local smugglers in China, tempted by the Miho-, Horiuchi's & Eskenazi's money are facing the death penalty"
Would you please be so kind as to comment on these statements? We really want to inform the Museum Security Mailinglist readers about these matters.
Sincerely yours,
Ton Cremers
++++++++++++++All three faxes to eskenazi remained unanswered++++++++++++
E-mail to FRAGMENTS OF TIME (resend August 21)
To: fragments@aol.com
Subject: Provenance research
Reply-to: securma@xs4all.nl
Date: Fri, 18 Aug 2000 18:54:25
Dear John Ambrose,
Today your catalogue Art from the Ancient World XV arrived.
The Museum Security Network always keeps an eager eye on provenance information whenever antiquities are offered for sale. A clear and true provenance history is one of the means to fight the illicit trade in antiquities. We do realize that there is not always a clear line between legal and illicit. On the other hand: legal does not always mean ethical. Of all items offered by you only very few have provenance information. Of those accompanied by provenance information in most cases this information is very meager (European collection, English Collection, Swiss collection etc.). Very few items offered have a provenance with the name of the 'collector'.
What really surprised us is that whenever there is provenance information this always is a 'one-layer' provenance. This is very strange for objects that are many centuries old. Where did objects come from before they entered these Swiss, European, English private collections? In our opinion a one-line provenance is no provenance.
The Chevron 'Bell' Krater, item 27, provenance name did ring a 'bell'.
We have sen this name before. Please do visit http://www.michelvanrijn.com/and follow the 'Final Blow' link. You will be able to find the name linked to item 27 at this very site.
The Museum Security Network's point of view is that all trade in antiquities without provenance is illicit, or at least not ethical.
Your comments will be very much appreciated. We intend to pay attention to your catalogue in one of our next messages to our subscribers (1300 worldwide). We will present our opinion to the mailinglist, and think that you have a right to present your point of view.
Sincerely,
Ton cremers
+++++++++++++++++both e-mails remained unanswered+++++++++++
Final remarks: another invitation to work together; further steps to investigate this matter
It goes without saying that today's mesage will be send to all organizations and individuals mentioned above. It is not acceptable that while the use of the WWW as a means to fight the illicit trade in antiquities is growing rapidly parties involved in the trade in antiquities ignore the Museum Security Network's reasonable demands for information.
I sincerely hope that all these organizations and individuals regard today's message a a renewed and VERY strong request for information and comments.
All information I have at the moment already has been send to official organizations in all countries involved. I expect to get much more background information soon.
All of you will be informed about possible results in due time.
Those of you interested in further reading are advised to get in touch with the McDonald institute for Archaeological Research and order their very informative publication:
STEALING HISTORY: The Illicit Trade in Cultural Material.
This publication is only available via:
Illicit Antiquities Research Centre
The McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research
attn Jenny Doole
Downing Street
Cambridge CB2 3ER
Tel: +44(0)1223 339342
Fax: +44(0)1223 333536
You need to send a cheque for 8 pounds sterling or 15 US dollars, made payable to 'The University of Cambridge', to this address. There are only a limited number of copies available. This report has caused quite a stir in the U.K.. It has come at quite an important time, since the Government Select Committee has just finished hearing evidence on the Illicit Trade and the Government has now set up a working group with (hopefully) a brief to look at issues surrounding signing (or not signing) the UNESCO/Unidroit conventions. The report has also received loads of Press, both national and international, perhaps because it is the first time this subject matter has been pulled together in one place, and because it lays down clear recommendations. So, the Museums Association, ICOM-UK and the Illicit Antiquities Research Centre believe it has helped to raise public awareness of the archaeological position regarding looting ...
let's hope that has some practical effect. .
Ton Cremers