I have not created any entries on this blog since August 2020, and with good reason. Nearly two years ago, I quietly terminated my antiquities business, Clio Ancient Art, bringing to an end twelve satisfying and enjoyable years of involvement in the trade. I’ve since permanently shut down Clio’s pages on various online selling platforms.… Read More Archiving This Blog
As promised, here is a compilation of news reports, summaries of academic articles and several videos (mostly from The British Museum) that I posted in my social media accounts over the past few months. These were items that seemed particularly relevant to those with an interest in antiquities and ancient art and that were of… Read More Compilation of Antiquities related news articles and videos from the past few months
At the time of this writing the self-styled Caliphate created by Islamic State six years ago in Syria and Iraq has been reduced to little more than a square mile of bombed out rubble. During IS’ heyday much was made in the western press of a supposed systematic trade in antiquities looted by IS operatives… Read More As the IS “Caliphate” disappears, time to revisit larger issues of the illicit antiquities trade
Every January we post a partial visual review of the antiquities and related items we sold the prior year. We’re a bit tardy this year but here is a photo montage with some of the items we sold, including Roman, Cypriot, Visigoth, Islamic and other antiquities in bronze, glass and ceramic, ancient Greek and Roman… Read More A brief look back at Clio’s 2018 sales
With the new year well under way, this seems a good time to share with our readers a sample of the many antiquities and antiquities-related artwork we sold in 2017. In addition to these, we also sold many more ancient coins, antique prints and books dealing with antiquities and ancient art.
This week’s featured object highlights the nature of travel and mobility, as well as the adoption of regional clothing styles, in the Roman world.… Read More Object of the week: A large Roman knee brooch
This week’s featured object is a small bronze coin of the Roman Emperor Constantius II. That may not be a name that jumps out from the pages of history the way Roman Emperors like Augustus, Nero or Hadrian do but in his own way Constantius II was a remarkable ruler. Born in what is now… Read More This Week’s Featured Item: A Small Coin with a Big Story
One group of artifacts making up a large proportion of small bronze objects available on the legitimate antiquities market is the fibula or brooch —Â an ornate pin, usually made of copper alloy but sometimes of precious metals or even iron, used to fasten and decorate clothing. Prior to the use of buttons becoming common… Read More Object of the Week: A Superb Roman Bronze Brooch
Recent news reports out of the City of Paphos, Cyprus describe a clash between the Mayor of Paphos on the one hand and the Cyprus antiquities department and its local Museum in Paphos on the other, with official pronouncements, competing press conferences and plenty of mudslinging. The Mayor indirectly accuses staff at the Museum and… Read More Bizarre antiquities-related political feud erupts on Cyprus
A new post on the Staffordshire Hoard website has announced completion of the cleaning and conservation project. With many tiny fragments emerging from the soil during this process, the total number of pieces is now about 4,000. Several pieces have been reconstructed from these fragments, with surprising results. The research phase is continuing and a… Read More Staffordshire Hoard Conservation Programme Completed
Clio Ancient Art & Antiquities 
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