JOBLESS MAN ON WELFARE FINDS VALUABLE TREASURE

A jobless man on welfare found one of the most important treasures of the century, according to British archaeologists. Over 1,500 pieces of Anglo-Saxon gold and silver work from the seventh century were found in a farmer's field. (The Anglo-Saxons ruled England from the 400s to 1066, when the Normans invaded.) The treasure hunter earned his luck by using a metal detector for 18 years before he made this discovery. The treasure included gold and silver sword fittings, crosses, dagger hilts, and parts of swords and helmets worth at least $1.6 million. The treasure belongs to the government, which will sell it to museums. The money will be shared; half to the farmer who owned the land, half to the finder.

Hunters with metal detectors and bottle diggers may damage historic sites, so they are scorned by archaeologists in the U.S.A. There are trespassing and other laws to prevent them from searching. Perhaps there should be a way to legalize what they do and to pay them for what they find so museums get the artifacts, finders get the money, and there is less damage and theft at sites that should be studied (see last week's ezine).

BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY CONTROVERSY

Here's the latest news on the Brandeis museum controversy (see Kovels Komments, Feb. 4, 2009) that has our blog running overtime: Jehuda Reinharz, president of Brandeis, publicly apologized late last week. He said the Rose Museum will stay open but will "be more fully integrated into the university's mission." It will be a teaching site and a gallery, but not a public museum. He added that only a "minute number" of the artworks will be sold. Since this statement leaves many loopholes, we suggest that those who are involved make their decisions where they can be seen by the public--not at closed meetings at Brandeis. The decisions can have an impact on all universities, museums, art donors, and others. Here are some addresses you can use to register your complaints with those in charge at Brandeis. And we still welcome comments.

Art Supporter said...

Dear Terry, This concerned me so much, I e-mailed the university even though I have no connection to Brandeis. Here are a few e-mail addresses I used: 'gould@brandeis.edu'; 'hose@brandeis.edu'; 'yates@brandeis.edu'; 'Reinharz@brandeis.edu' in case other readers feel compelled to write to the university. Thanks for your concern and information.

Susan Jane said...

Here is a further article:"Inside Higher Ed" at: http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/01/27/brandeis

There is a web petition--please sign!http://www.thepetitionsite.com/3/in-opposition-to-the-closing-of-the-rose-art-museum

I belong to a professional art librarians group and this has been circulated to us. Thanks.

HOW TO PROTECT YOUR COLLECTION

If you are considering giving a gift to a museum, historical society, school, or some other tax exempt organization, be sure to obtain a written agreement. You can give your donation with the legally binding requirement that if it's sold, the money will be used for more art or collectibles, not for buildings or salaries or other types of collections. If the museum or school won't take it under those conditions, you can require that the donation be returned to you when the organization no longer wants it. If the museum or school balks at that request, give your donation to someone else. Years ago a serious collector and author of information on wooden wares gave her entire, valuable collection to a local museum to be displayed and studied--only to live long enough (over 90) to see the museum sell all of it. And the museum even ignored her wishes and used the money it made selling her collection to pay for other projects.