Originally published at: Priceless ancient Roman bust sold for $34.99 at a Texas Goodwill | Boing Boing
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So…where did Germany get this priceless Roman bust? Did they “source it” out from under the Italians? I can’t help but think about Great Britain and the Elgin Marbles.
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There were many Roman settlements in what is now Germany. It may have come from one of those. Much of what is now Baden-Württemberg was under Roman occupation.
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Two wrongs don’t make a right and all that, but Germany being unhappy about stolen art during WWII is a little bit ahem.
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Unfortunately not much I can find on that. The best I found is
How the sculpture went from Italy to Bavaria, presumably in the 19th century, is not a matter of dispute.
From Looted Roman bust, bought from Texas secondhand store for $34.99, will be returned to Germany
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I hope she got her $34.99 back.
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Since she paid the sticker price of $34.99, does that mean it is no longer priceless?
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She got a finder’s fee from the Bavarian government. But the exact terms are confidential.
More pics here, the place I first saw the story. So the $35 sculpture you got at an Austin Goodwill was looted from a museum during WWII. Now what? | KUT Radio, Austin's NPR Station
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Man, if I found a carved marble head, I think I would assume it would be a modern replica, but also that it’s worth way more than $35.
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The story says the families and heirs of collectors want their stuff back.
How does anyone know if the collectors obtained the stuff legally?
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Keeping in mind these are not the same Germans from the 1930s/40s. It can be easy to forget that. Unless it is a looted piece, I would hope modern Germany would work towards its return. That’s what best for the art world.
ETA: from a linked article, “It was listed as a portrait bust of a man named Drusus Germanicus.” Likely locally sourced, not looted.
ETA again. Not. Not not not not not not not the same Germans. FFS. So, so sorry. Yeesh
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theres a photo of the actual bust on the linked article. not sure why boingboing is using another image…
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Yeah, he’s definitely got that “Only 35 bucks?” look on his face.
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Ffs. See my ETA. Not sure what happened there. Not not but not.
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Sorry… was making a joke about the gold train…
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I’m interested in finding out how some GI carried a 52lb marble bust back home.
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