Comments on: Antiquities OPEC? http://lookingaround.blogs.time.com/2008/07/17/antiquities_opec/ Reflections on art and architecture by TIME critic Richard Lacayo. Tue, 08 Dec 2009 15:49:09 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Tan Boon Tee http://lookingaround.blogs.time.com/2008/07/17/antiquities_opec/comment-page-1/#comment-291 Tan Boon Tee Sat, 19 Jul 2008 07:51:17 +0000 http://lookingaround.blogs.time.com/2008/07/17/antiquities_opec/#comment-291 Yes, this is interesting, the notion of Antiquities OPEC. If the collaboration among and a deliberation at international level of the source nations do materialize, it will certainly be the best piece of news for world cultural property this year. As it is, Shelly White has returned 10 antique artifacts to Italy and intends to give back two to Greece. I could be least certain if other global collectors (either in their own personal capacity or on behalf of museums) would do exactly likewise. Britain appears to have accumulated a vast number of foreign antiquities during the past several centuries, notably from ancient civilizations like China, Egypt and India. If even part of these were to be returned in good faith to the source nations, the British Museum would likely to be half empty. (Tan Boon Tee) Yes, this is interesting, the notion of Antiquities OPEC. If the collaboration among and a deliberation at international level of the source nations do materialize, it will certainly be the best piece of news for world cultural property this year.

As it is, Shelly White has returned 10 antique artifacts to Italy and intends to give back two to Greece. I could be least certain if other global collectors (either in their own personal capacity or on behalf of museums) would do exactly likewise.

Britain appears to have accumulated a vast number of foreign antiquities during the past several centuries, notably from ancient civilizations like China, Egypt and India. If even part of these were to be returned in good faith to the source nations, the British Museum would likely to be half empty.
(Tan Boon Tee)

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