Our Philosophy on Collecting
Press Release - 01/01/2007
Collecting antiquities is a unique passion. Like other collecting pursuits there is the thrill of the hunt, the refinement of one’s ‘eye’, the satisfaction in building up, piece by piece, a good grouping of objects , etc., etc.. But unlike the others, antiquities provide another dimension, which is the palpable connection across the millennia, between ourselves and our distant forbears.
Whether it be the act of holding a Greek vase, examining an Egyptian bronze, or handling a Peruvian textile, there is invariably that crystalline moment when the clear yet ineffable link to its maker gives us pause and inspiration.
The urge to maintain this contact is itself an ancient one. Julius Caesar is reported to have collected Etruscan artifacts and in the Song dynasty Chinese collectors avidly sought out already ancient Shang bronzes.
At a time when much is said about the need to respect and encourage cultural diversity we can think of no better way to teach our children the unique worth of all the world’s many civilizations, both past and present, than by giving them the opportunity to live in a home ‘populated’ by the handiworks of these distant, yet vibrant spirits.
We know that living with art is enriching to the soul and the mind. But living with antiquities goes beyond this. It serves to connect us all as it instructs and enlightens our sense of shared humanity.
