Dhaka, January 2002 - Thinking about Asia's rich cultural heritage, Bangladesh is not the first country, which comes to one's mind. Yet after having been here for a few weeks, it is worthwhile to spend a few lines on it. The country presents itself as an Islamic democracy but throughout history Hindus and Buddhists have been here in large numbers. Emperor Ashoka converted to Buddhism in 262 BC and as late as the 7th century AD Buddhism was still prevalent in Bangladesh. Buddhistst today are a rather tiny minority, mostly tribal people living in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, which are bordering Myanmar. Hinduism had begun to experience a resurgence in the 8th century AD. Until the time of the Partition of British India (1947) Hindus lived in large numbers in the then East Bengal. In most towns there was at least one Hindu temple. Often there were more. After 1947 a large number of Hindus fled to India, whereas a large number of Muslims from India came to this side. After 1971, when Bangladesh gained its independence from Pakistan, again many Hindus left for India. At that time some 15 percent of the population was Hindu. At present it has decreased to slightly more than ten per cent. In the town of Dhamrai, 40 km northwest of Dhaka, I met with a Hindu family, which was still producing traditional brass Hindu statues. the Dhamrai Metal Crafts. With the lost wax method they can make any statue one wants. Their house is a beautiful one in the old Hindu Zamindari style. Until 1971 they had lived there with some 20 family members. Now only three of them were left. Many rooms are empty. Their case is typical for the fate of the Hindus in Bangladesh. Estimates are that there are only six craftsmen left in Bangladesh who are capable of making masterpiece-quality Hindu and Buddhist images*. Some Hindu families, which leave Bangladesh, take their gods and goddesses and other ritual objects with them. Others are scared to do so, and leave them behind. Hindu temples are looked after rather poorly. Some have reached a very poor state. They have become a profitable target for looters.
The owner of Rukshana Pearls Handicrafts in Dhaka sells black stone objects from Mahasthangarh near the town of Bogra. In this spot a number of Hindu, Buddhist and Muslim sites can be found. Sometimes the owner sends one of his own men to gather statues, at other times middlemen come and bring them to his shop in Dhaka. One of his assistants shows a number of black stone objects, mostly Hindu and one or two Buddhist. According to him they date from the 11th century. I can buy the most expensive for US$ 800. The statues have visibly been broken away from temple walls and shrines. Shop assistant N. Islam at the nearby Curio Corner shows a copy of the book Sculptural Art of Bangladesh by A.K.M. Shamsul Alam (Dhaka, Department of Archaeology and Museums, 1985). He has changed this academic study into a catalogue to serve customers. He quickly turns to page 183 and offers a black stone statue similar to the Vishna shown here. When he has uncovered it, it turns out to be slightly smaller (height 63 cm, width 26 cm) than the one in the "catalogue" but it is of a superb beauty. Price: US $ 2,000. According to him, the statue has been broken out of the wall of a temple, and in Dhaka the unnecessary pieces of stone have been carefully removed. Both shopkeepers allow me to make photographs, and both enquire whether I am a diplomat, or whether I have good friends who are diplomat. The Government, as both of them claim, puts many restrictions on the export of black stone objects. To get these through the custom might cause inconveniences. The diplomatic pouch is the safest way to get them out of the country. One of them then narrates about a previous first secretary of the Embassy of Japan. He bought ten black stone statues from him. A member of the Italian delegation in Dhaka bought before his transfer to the Italian Embassy in the USA two black stone pieces from him. Both these shops are owned by Muslim people. For them the Hindu treasures have little value. When I asked the owner of the Dhamrai Metal Crafts, whether he could offer black stone Hindu statues, he was upset. The answer was negative. Both shop assistants in Dhaka claim that diplomats are among their best clients. One should however not forget, that Bangladesh attracts very few tourists and that the heading diplomats most probably also covers foreign aid workers without diplomatic status. From other sources I come to understand, that well to do Hindus in India come to Bangladesh to purchase old statues. This is cheaper than to have an artist made a new, highly qualified one. There are fewer and fewer artists, who have the capacity to make high quality statues. Another source told me the story of a German ambassador, who had fallen in love with a big black stone Vishna statue. When he left for his next post he had left the statue behind, as he knew that the export of such black stone objects is not allowed. After a few months he began to miss the statue so much, that he wrote a letter to the President of Bangladesh, requesting an export permit. The President sent the request to the Director General of the Bangladesh National Museum. His answer was clear: No way, it would be against the law! The President then sent the request to the Director of Antiquities. The latter came with a positive advice for the former representative of such an important donor country as Germany. The statue left Bangladesh.
* See also: Matthew S. Friedman, Bangladesh Metal Casting: Five Techniques. The University Press Limited, Dhaka, 2001. ISBN 984 05 1606 X.
Enigma case man released after three months jail
An antiques dealer jailed for his involvement in the disappearance of a Second World War Enigma encoding machine has been released. Last October Yates, of Sandiacre, Derby, was sentenced for handling the Abwehr Enigma G312 machine, stolen from the Buckinghamshire mansion Bletchley Park. A charge of blackmail was ordered to lie on file. He has told Central News: "I honestly intended to return the Enigma and I got locked up because of the deviousness of the police. "I am wronged man, I had to plead guilty to handling because technically I was guilty. But I only ever handled the machine with the intention that I would return it to Bletchley Park. That I attempted to do under the promise of immunity from prosecution which all the newspapers printed. And the moment that I appear and attempt to return the machine I am arrested and thrown into clankers, as they say." Mr Yates added that he had suffered threats from the person who wanted money from the machine and is still concerned about possible reprisals. He said: "I have left instructions with certain people that in the event of anything untowards happening they are to contact the Press and they are to be given certain information which will be released if that should happen." Detective Superintendent Simon Chesterman, who is leading the inquiry into the theft of the machine for Thames Valley Police, said today: "We are hoping for developments in the next few months. The release of Dennis Yates is a matter for the Prison Service and other agencies and not the police. "However, we can confirm that his release is in no way connected to an ongoing investigation into the theft of the Enigma machine. We are continuing to follow a number of lines of inquiry into the theft." http://www.ananova.com/ From: adalberto biasiotti securcomp@mclink.it
Subject: luggage inspection
from adalberto biasiotti security advisor to Pompeii superintendent
we ask visitors to leave luggage, before entering here is the notice upfront at Pompeii excavation site
FOR YOUR AND OUR SECURITY!
Please note that laws on premises security (law 626/94) may not be fully applicable within an archaeological environment: therefore you are kindly requested to assume a very cautious behaviour during the visit To let visitors safely enjoy the visit, the Superintendent reserves the right to deny entry to unruly people and to anybody which behaviour and appearance is not compatible with the safety and security of other visitors and the environment Cases, large handbags, backpacks, large envelopes and parcels may damage artifacts and visitors; therefore, such personal items must be deposited in the cloakroom For hygiene and propriety of the premises, food and drinks cannot be consumed out of designated areas. A picnic area is located near Porta di Nola To safeguard the property and the visitors, animals are not allowed within the premises, except guide dogs for disabled visitors Photos are allowed only for personal use. Professional reportage should be authorized in advance by the Superintendent Visitors to archaeological sites, often quite delicate and potentially unsafe, are requested to take the utmost care on walking paths. Absolutely no admittance is allowed where work is in progress; also, no climbing is allowed on natural and man made structures Please use shoes with low heels, in archaeological sites To improve the collections security, security personnel is entitled to inspect the visitors personal belonging, such as handbags, parcels, an so on, upon entry and exit If an exiting visitor is found in possession of items, wich the security personnel has reasons to believe belonging to the site, the Superintendent is entitled to carry out appropriate checks, with Police support The tourist guide service is offered by independent operators, that should always display the badge, issued by Regione Campania In case on unusual occurencies or in case of emergency, please contact discreetly the security personnel and follow his instructions.
THE SUPERINTEDENT WISHES YOU A SECURE AND ENLIGHTENING VISIT!
New campaign to send Elgin Marbles home
A campaign to build public support for the return of the Elgin Marbles is being launched on Wednesday. Parthenon 2004 wants the British government to agree to returning the stone friezes to Greece before the Olympic Games in Athens. They were taken from the Acropolis in 1801 and Britain has always argued it should keep the artworks, which once decorated the sides of the Parthenon. They are on display at the British Museum in London. The Parthenon 2004 campaign will be launched by Richard Allan MP and it has the backing of political figures like Michael Foot and Tony Banks MP and celebrities including Vanessa Redgrave. Thousands of postcards will be used to raise the profile of a campaign which has until now been political and diplomatic. Mr Allan says: "The 2004 Olympics would provide a unique opportunity for the British Government to make an imaginative and generous contribution to world heritage. "It is a chance for this country to demonstrate just how forward looking, internationalist and progressive it really is." http://www.ananova.com/
Rare masterpieces lost in fire at collector's home
Rare masterpieces by Gaugin, Rembrandt and Tintoretto worth millions of pounds have been destroyed. The paintings were destroyed in a fire at the home of an art collector in Croatia. Tony Peroch says they were not insured because he wanted to stop thieves from finding out about them. Peroch said: "It's a tragedy. I don't know the value of all the works but I had one of Gauguin's paintings that was valued at over five million dollars in 1998. "I only got it recently and had not even had time to put it in a frame. It was over 300 years old and showed a couple in the heat of passion, it was from the artist's Tahiti phase." Police say the fire started because of faulty wiring. "It was five o'clock in the morning and I got up to go to the toilet, on the way back I saw that a light fitting had caught fire," said Peroch. "I grabbed a pillow and tried to smother the fire, but there was no way to do it, even the firemen were unable to help - it all caught fire so quickly." Peroch said he had not insured the collection because he believed his security was impregnable to thieves, and had not thought about fires.
Story filed: 14:56 Tuesday 15th January 2002 http://www.ananova.com/
Scotland Returns Stolen Artifacts to Ethiopia
Addis Tribune (Ethiopia), Jan 14, 2002
An editorial in an Addis Ababa newspaper, the Addis Tribune, praises the return to Ethiopia of an important religious artifact looted by British troops from Emperor Tewodros' capital at Maqdala in 1868. The artifact, a Holy Tabot or symbolic representation of the Ark of the Covenant, was found by a priest in a church in Edinburgh, Scotland 130 years after British soldiers looted it in a bloody battle after a diplomatic dispute between Ethiopia and Great Britain. "The decision to return the Tabot from Edinburgh was taken by St. John's Episcopal Church at the suggestion of the Rev. John McLuckie, a staunch friend of justice, whose action we warmly commend," said the editorial. The Tabot is a six inch square wooden tablet representing the Ark of the Covenant containing the Ten Commandments. The belief that the Ark came to reside in Ethiopia is the distinctive trait of the Ethiopian Orthodox Christian Church to which 40 percent of the Ethiopian population belong. The editorial pointed out that ten other Tabots, also looted from Maqdala, remain at the British Museum in London. So the act of restitution raises the question of when other articles including the ones at the British Museum will be returned. "The present British initiative, which was entirely voluntary, was motivated solely by a love of justice, also calls into question the remarkable inaction of the Italian Government in respect of the Aksum obelisk," said the editorial. The Ethiopian government and the Orthodox Church have appealed repeatedly for the return of the obelisk, but to no avail.
Compiled by Donal Brown http://www.ncmonline.com/ Art That's Alluring--to Thieves
The critics may disagree, but 14 heists on the West Coast mean there's a market for the works being stolen.
By SCOTT MARTELLE and VIVIAN LETRAN, TIMES STAFF WRITERS
Sculptor Michael Wilkinson is hot. Or at least his work is, but not the way he would prefer. Thieves have been spiriting acrylic sculptures by Wilkinson and works by other artists out of mall galleries and other commercial outlets from Denver to California, with 14 heists on the West Coast alone, authorities said. And while critics are reserved, authorities say there appears to be a ready market for the sculptures. The thieves "may be linked to a large national ring," Orange County Sheriff's Department spokesman Jim Amormino said. "It's probably a loose-knit group of thieves working together. Their methods are very similar."
The modus operandi sounds like two kids shoplifting candy. One thief distracts the gallery attendant while the other drapes a jacket over the artwork and heads for the door, police said. "They're very fast," Amormino said. "They want to get in and out real quick." Last week, thieves took a $3,200 Wilkinson sculpture--"Crystal Fire"--from the Henken Gallery in the New Otani Hotel in Los Angeles. Two days later, a $10,000 Wilkinson piece titled "Moonscape II: Aria" was stolen from Mission Viejo's Kaleidoscope Gallery. It was the second theft from the mall gallery in Mission Viejo. On Dec. 20, two men rustled a 19-inch Jiang bronze horse valued at $12,500 out of the shop. "I couldn't afford it anymore and I put in a security system," said owner Ed Bolin, who opened the gallery in 1998 and had been victimized only twice before the Wilkinson thefts. Thieves, who were captured on videotape in the second Kaleidoscope theft, also have struck in Long Beach and Beverly Hills, and as far north as San Francisco. "Moonscape II: Aria" is a 21-inch, see-through acrylic nude that resembles an ice sculpture. Part of a limited edition of 500, the gallery valued the piece at $10,000, although another dealer listed a copy for $6,800. "They've taken stuff they can sell, and these sculptures are on the high end of sculpture art," Bolin said. "So they have a good eye. They must either have buyers in the business who are telling them what to steal, or they know what art they can move and sell quickly."
Thieves also have been targeting acrylic works by the late Fredrick Hart, best-known for his bronze "Three Servicemen" statue at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington. The stolen art generally is dismissed by serious art critics. Wilkinson's work is in the Romantic Realism style and influenced by Ayn Rand. "Romantic Realism has an emotional, sublime quality to it," said Martin Kersels, a sculptor, art instructor and California Institute of the Arts art program director. "It can be nostalgic. In the contemporary art world, Romantic Realism is not something people are aspiring to." The style was popular in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, but it has fallen into insignificance because "it doesn't push the boundaries," he said.
"I think the majority of this style of art has no cultural currency," Kersels said. "It's popular and commercially profitable because people recognize the images, it's nostalgic, and it's not offensive." On his Web site, Wilkinson, a New York artist, describes his work as "rooted firmly in realism that portrays the good and the beautiful in the human spirit--and points to the glorious possibilities of our existence." The site describes Wilkinson as being influenced by European classics and Japanese architecture he saw as an Air Force illustrator. The pieces have an audience among people drawn to mystical overtones the artists place on realistic--if idealized--human forms. "Wilkinson's work is sculpture--it's clear acrylic so when you look at it from different angles, there's a lot of different dimensions to it," Bolin said. "It's men and women intertwined . . . in love and with a child." While the critics might sniff, the pieces wouldn't get stolen if there weren't demand, Amormino said. Investigators believe the art might be destined for Mexico.
"There tends to be a ready market for this," he said. http://www.latimes.com/
Metal detector man can keep money from Viking ring
A delivery man who unearthed a Viking ring in a Yorkshire field will be allowed to sell it and keep the money. An independent panel of experts is now being asked to put a value on the 1,000-year-old silver ring. Peter Birkett, who delivers shopping for Tesco, found it after a customer let him go metal detecting in his field. An inquest in Hull has declared the ring 'treasure', reports the York Evening Press. Mr Birkett, of York, said: "I've been metal detecting for about five years now, but this is my biggest find by far. "Because of my job, I get to meet a lot of people, and when I deliver to farmers I ask them if I can search on their land. I couldn't believe what I had found." The 39-year-old has vowed to share any money he receives for the ring with the farmer. Mr Birkett says he would like to see the ring go on show at either the Hull Museum or in York. http://www.thisisyork.co.uk/