Egypt

Artifacts up for auction to pay debt

Ohio.com (David Giffels)

What was once a bright constellation in the universe of art and antiquities is disintegrating in an online auction, mouse-click by mouse-click, in a major step toward satisfying millions of dollars of an Akron collector's debt.

The continuing fall of Bruce Ferrini from international prominence is being documented in real time, as eBay-style bids creep upward on 153 items, many of them ancient religious artifacts.

A 2,800-year-old strip of linen mummy wrap, inscribed with text from the Book of the Dead. Current bid (as of Friday afternoon): $1.

A Babylonian pottery vessel, approximately 3,800 years old, valued at $3,000 to $5,000. Current bid: $150.

Ferrini owes some $5 million to a long international list of creditors. Mainly because of the eclectic nature of the collection and the controversy attached to its architect, this auction has been more than two years in the making.

The assets were seized in late summer of 2005. Despite the quality of the goods, the major, mainstream auction houses shied away. The sale is being conducted by the Dallas-based Heritage Auction Galleries, with the items on view at Arte Primitivo Gallery in New York City. Online bidding will continue until the close of business Wednesday.

See the above page for the full story.

- Eighth Annual Petrie Book Auction
The 2012 Petrie book auction has just started. If you have previously registered to receive the list you should have already received this notification and the first list from Petrie Books and you do not need to register again. If you are...

- Petrie Museum Book Auction 2010
From Jan Picton at the Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology. (To subscribe to the auction newsletter email the words auction 'subscribe' in the subject line to [email protected]): The 2010 Petrie annual book auction will start this...

- Antiquities: Downturn In Antiquity Sales
PR Newswire Swansea archaeologist David Gill has been analyzing the sale of antiquities in New York since 1999. Some $300 million worth of antiquities have been sold at Sotheby's and Christie's since 1998. There are normally two sales a year for...

- Antiquities Reveal Surprising Strength At Lower End Of Market
International Herald Tribune (Souren Melikian) Certain sales stand out as landmarks by unexpectedly shedding new light on the forces that truly drive the art market. A daylong auction of antiquities at Bonhams this week was one of those enlightening events....

- Sotheby's December 2007 Antiquities Auction Results
Sotheby's The Auction Results page can be reached at the above URL. Navigate in the list to the auction "Antiquities", December 5th 2007. You will need to be registered to access the Results page (free of charge). You will then be able to see each...

Egypt