OT: antiquities

[darwinbulldog]

I'm looking to buy something as a gift for a family member, but I'm not knowledgeable enough to know what to look for in area of antiquities. I'm knowledgeable of eBay generally and recognize that 0 feedback sellers don't instill the greatest confidence, but do any of you know this stuff? Does it look legitimate?

https://www.ebay.com/sch/ancient_house/m.html?item=163016672602&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2562

[ullmandds]

I don't know much about authenticating egyptian antiquities...but I would question the legality of selling them on ebay. I would certainly avoid buying from a seller with 0 feedback...and from Canada...unless you live in canada as well. just my .02

[conor912]

I would be utterly shocked if those were authentic....any of them.

[packs]

Buy from a reputable auction house only.

[1880nonsports]

I wouldn't get anywhere near those things. Agree with the above statement - they are ALL NO GOOD!

[megalimey]

I'm looking to buy something as a gift for a family member, but I'm not knowledgeable enough to know what to look for in area of antiquities. I'm knowledgeable of eBay generally and recognize that 0 feedback sellers don't instill the greatest confidence, but do any of you know this stuff? Does it look legitimate?

https://www.ebay.com/sch/ancient_house/m.html?item=163016672602&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2562

google fake ancient Egyptian artifacts
660,000 found search results

theses look like the stuff tourists bought when visiting Egypt especially during the 1980's-1990's
authentic pieces with provenance can sell for $1000's

so lets sell them on ebay for pennies on the dollar
with no mention how they were acquired ???

[Peter_Spaeth]

The condition across all the items looks uniform, and much better than one (at least me) would expect given the purported age. Do not pass go.

[darwinbulldog]

Thank you all. I'll look elsewhere.

[drcy]

As far as selling real Egyptian antiquities, it's legal if there is proof they were purchased before 1983. Egypt put a law in 1983 forbidding their sale, but anything purchased before then is okay.

[drcy]

Also, those items are 100% modern reproductions. Deduced from just a quick glance at what is being offered.

The "set of three canopic jars' at min bid of $125 jumped out immediately. Caponic jars are what they put the put the innards (heart, etc) of the Pharaohs, king, princes, princesses into and buried with the mummies in the tombs. Even if they were legal to sell, those would be worth like tens of millions of dollars if not more.

There's nothing wrong with selling or buying reproductions-- I might like a reproduced caponic jar for my bookshelf--, but that the seller doesn't clearly state they are modern reproduction makes him, to put it politely, a deceptive dealer. There's no question he knows they are modern reproductions.

If you do want to get something old or ancient, look into American Indian Artifacts. There are a lot of fakes and reproductions there, but also a lot of legit stuff if you know what to look for. I can give you one quick tip on ancient American Indian arrowheads, stone knives and such. If it's broken, it's more than probably authentic. They forge wholes ones not broken ones. Also, there are legitimate experts in the area that give COAs.

[kkkkandp]

As David noted, the sale and purchase of Egyptian antiquities is still legal as long as it can be incontrovertibly proven that the items were held in private collections before the establishment of the 1983 law. (https://www.cemml.colostate.edu/cultural/09476/laws10egyptenl.html)

The price of legitimate items, however, can be astronomical. Even the "cheap stuff" isn't cheap, though, so buying ushabtis, wedjat eyes, faience amulets and scarabs on Ebay is probably not a great idea. I am acquainted with Allan Anawati (having bought a couple of very small things for my daughter) and his firm is top notch with a long-established pedigree. You might want to check out his company. https://medusa-art.com/

[chlankf]

I dabbled in Egyptian antiquities before and after college for archaeology. UNESCO has passed many laws as mentioned above to curb nation's from having their cultural heritage disappear. It is a pretty hot debate between collectors and historians. The antiquities being sold need to have documentation showing import information or have ability to see in a collection or traded, sticky.

You have to go to a reputable dealer/auction. Try checking out http://http://www.sadighgallery.com I have done business with them several times.

Craig

[bobbvc]

These seem more likely to be legit, though I'm not familiar enough to be positive. Fun to look at in any case.
https://www.vcoins.com/en/Search.aspx?search=true&searchQuery=ancient+egypt&searchQueryExclude=&searchCategory=0&searchCategoryLevel=2&searchCategoryAncient=True&searchCategoryUs=True&searchCategoryWorld=True&searchCategoryMedieval=False&searchBetween=0&searchBetweenAnd=0&searchDate=&searchUseThesaurus=True&searchDisplayCurrency=&searchDisplay=1&searchIdStore=0&searchQueryAnyWords=&searchExactPhrase=&searchTitleAndDescription=True&searchDateType=0&searchMaxRecords=100&SearchOnSale=False&Unassigned=False