Ancient Egyptian Forum

Merytre-Hatshepsut · Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2005 1:02 pm Post subject: Amarna Princess on ebay

A pink limestone head of an Amarna Princess is now on sale on ebay.
Only 195 thousand dollars Very Happy

Going once, going twice....
http://cgi3.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewUserPage&userid=gazinauctions

It's supposedly a piece from the Mansoor collection.

I wonder who will end up buying something like that. I would have suspected that an art dealer would go through somewhat more private means.

Hope this picture will load:

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mary500 · Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2005 1:29 pm Post subject:

I admit it, it would be so awesome to have your own collection of Ancient artifacts, I did, for awhile have a coin collection, and have some Roman coins from Cleapatra's time, and LOVED to hold them and think about how the fact that someone, that long ago used it to purchase wine, or oil, or linens, etc, but in all reality, I believe pieces like that belong in museums, where everyone can share the beauty of it and learns its story. Alas, I don't think that in my lifetime, I will have $195,000 to spend so friviously Rolling Eyes

Cool to look at though!
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Hatshepsut76 · Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2005 2:19 pm Post subject:

I read the news on the italian forum of egiptology...
I think it's non possible to sell art works like this to other people! Things like this make me get angry! Evil or Very Mad

Merytre-Hatshepsut · Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2005 4:00 pm Post subject:

Yes, objects like this should be in a museum. Not in someone's private home/collection.

There is still some question about the authenticity of some of the pieces in the Mansoor collection isn't there?

chiaraal · Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2005 4:23 pm Post subject:

I agree with you, too!
Nobody can deprive, in my opinion, other people by seeing or examinating this wonderful artefacts!
Grrrrr! Twisted Evil

bye bye

Chiara Shocked

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Osiris II · Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2005 6:01 pm Post subject:

There's quite a debate still going on regarding the authenticity of the Mansoor collection. There are some authorities on
egyptian art that firmly state that the pieces are fakes--well made, but not from the Amarna Period.
There are others that also firmly believe that the are "real".
IMOHO, the just don't have the look of authentic pieces from the Amarna Age, but I am not an authority! Rolling Eyes

One of the Mansoor brothers posts on a web site I go to all the time. He seems to be a very likeable person, but foams at the mouth if anyone expresses an doubt about the collection.
So far, as far as I'm concerned, he has not proven his point.

Lostris · Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2005 6:46 pm Post subject:

Oh well, what kind of a price! $195,000.00 I'm amazed why just people think they can sell a beautiful work like this expecially if it's from the Amarna age! But is it real? And if yes, how could the egyptologists give the permission to do this? If it is really an amarna artwork, I hope it's just a bad joke to sell it.
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Hatshepsut76 · Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2005 7:43 pm Post subject:

Yes, Lostris, I agree with you! I think it's a bad habit to convince people buy something that - on the contrary - is not true!! Evil or Very Mad

the_tutness_is_here · Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2005 1:09 am Post subject:

....As for me, I'm wondering when and where Hawass is going to scream about this. Shocked

Didn't he want Egypt's artifacts and treasures BACK in Egypt? NOW this is selling for a huge amount of money, and it's gonna be displayed at a home where people can come and gawk at it?!!? Crying or Very sad

Oh, my word...where has all the decency gone?!!? Confused

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Osiris II · Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2005 3:59 pm Post subject:

It's being put on the market by a private collector, and will most likely be purchased by a private collector. I'm sure it's much to his dismay, but Hawass will have no say in where it goes. His "requests" do not affect private collectors, only museums.
The press is making too much out of his requests, though. I'm sure he realizes that, with the vast amounts of Egyptian art that is in other countries, it would be virtually impossible for EVERYTHING to be sent back--in the first place, Egypt has no place for it. The Cairo museum is stuffed to overflowing. There are plans for a new museum, but even with that it would be an impossible task to own and display it all. He has stated that he would love to see the return of Nefertiti and the Rosetta Stone, but IMHO that just will not happen.
Perhaps the abduction of Nefertiti would justify its return, but the Rosetta Stone is too much one of the choice pieces of the BM. It was taken as spoils of war, and as such legally belongs to England. Hawass is no fool--he knows this, I am sure. I think the press, in their search for impressive headlines, has done more damage than good.

Tadukhipa · Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2005 3:08 am Post subject:

Boo! Those things belong in museums! (And I agree with the post above regarding Hawass/the cairo museum. Aren't there some really great pieces-- such as the stillborn children from Tut's tomb-- kept in random boxes in the backroom.)

On another note: the head seems like it might be familiar, yet not. Does anyone know if it appears in any Amarna books they've looked at? If not, then I must recognize the Amarna-esque style. Does anyone know the history/site of the piece? My first guess would be that it's from the later period, but for some reason it seems a bit ugly to me for late Amarna art. Any wild guesses from the crowd?
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chiaraal · Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2005 11:38 am Post subject:

I talk with some "egyptophilies" and we "agree" in saying that the Mansoor Collection (from which the little princess head come) seems to be a group of fakes...But we don't know.
Looking at the photographs of the statues which made out this collection we don't fell the same such as looking at the "effectively" Amarnan statues...Do you understand? It's also a feeling... Wink

Regardin the Art-style we noticed that the eyes, noses and lips seem to be too much "hardly made" than in the usual Amarnian style...(Sorry if I can't well express this opinion but I don't know the specific terms... Embarassed

). Maybe some pieces of the colelction aren't fakes but...who knows? Only a good comparison with the true amarnian style may be the right way in determining the origin of those "art-pieces".
Ciao

Chiara Shocked

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Sorry! Not too good in english!

A.Z.

Tadukhipa · Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2005 9:42 pm Post subject:

Right! I'd heard somewhere that this collection had a lot of contrevorsy...

Here's a gallery of the collection:
http://mansooramarnacollection.com/macgallery/index.html

I recognize a lot of them, but thankfully none of my favorites are there. I agree with the above post... They do look a bit off to me. They're kind of wierd (which is saying a lot considering how it's Amarna period art that we're dealing with here.) They seem a bit crude/less refined.
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chiaraal · Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2005 12:04 pm Post subject:

In my opinion the fact that they are very little art-pieces and that are copies of known amarnian art-works seem to be a proof of they being fakes...But who knows?
Chiara Shocked

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Sorry! Not too good in english!

A.Z.

Osiris II · Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2005 2:31 pm Post subject:

Another aspect of the Mansoor collection that should be considered--they could be authentic, but made by an apprentice (who wasn't too skillful!). Very Happy