Call for Papers: SECAC: Collecting and the Trade of Antiquities (Birmingham, AL, Oct 17-20, 2018)

Collecting and the Trade of Antiquities

Deadline: April 20th 2018

Birmingham, Alabama, United States, October 17-20, 2018

Session Chairs:
Louise Arizzoli (University of Mississippi) larizzol@olemiss.edu
Evie Terrono (Randolph-Macon College) eterrono@rmc.edu

Both acquiring and collecting antiquities are now strictly regulated. This is one result of the development of the science of archaeology, the increased recognition of the significance of the context of finds and the stricter enforcement of legislation forbidding the export of antiquities from their countries of origin. This panel is interested in research dealing with the trade of antiquities and its development with a specific focus on the nineteenth century and twentieth century, before the UNESCO convention of 1970. We would seek contributions about antiquities collectors: what they bought and when, how they displayed these treasures in their homes and what was the impulse that led them to buy ancient art. We also would be interested in dealers of ancient art and how the antiquities art market functioned. Finally, we would also welcome papers about antiquities collectors and their relationship with museums, as well as museums’ acquisition agenda regarding ancient art in the nineteenth century.