St Louis society attempts second sale of antiquities
The Archaeological Institute of America might revoke the group’s charter.
The leadership of the Archaeological Institute of America (AIA) has once again condemned the St Louis chapter of its organisation for consigning artefacts to auction.
Held by the society since 1911-12, the two objects, a Mayan vase from Quiriqua in Honduras (est £3,800-£5,000) and a Zapotec urn from Monte Alban, Mexico (est £1,900-£3,100) are due to be sold at Bonhams, New York, on 12 November.
The Art Newspaper
November 6, 2014
© Archaeological Institute of America
Last month, the group put up its “Harageh Treasure” of Egyptian artefact for auction at Bonhams London, but the collection was pulled at the last minute and privately acquired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art for an undisclosed sum.
In a statement reaffirming “in the strongest terms its opposition to the actions of the St Louis Society”, the AIA’s leadership announced that they will conduct a hearing in January 2015 to decide whether the society’s charter should be suspended or revoked. The AIA may also amend its regulations and codes of practice to halt sales by other affiliate societies.
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