Indeed today it's illegal to sell greek antiquities that comes from an excavation or a site but most likely these came from private collections that are established, catalogued and are known to the ministry. Also, there are many times you hear that an artifact came up for auction that known as being stolen and the culprit is captured and the artifact is returned to Greece. There is a special unit that deals with this stuff and they collaborate with all the big auction houses in the world. This is also the same reason why metal detecting in Greece is usually not allowed or you have to get a special permit because you will easily find something ancient without having to search too hard.
Depends on where you're from. If you're in the US, there is a treaty that requires that the piece must have been out of Greece prior to January 19, 2001. There's no single global agreement, only bilateral or multilateral treaties. Where I'm from, there's zero import restrictions on all antiquities.
I was recently looking at the prices of a Sotheby’s auction with lots containing sixth century Greek vases - Athenian, Euboean. The pieces appeared to be in excellent condition, with provenance. Although essentially priceless, their estimates were pretty affordable - $8,000 - $30,000. There were Etruscan bronze kraters as well - same. To appreciate the bargain, compare the prices against oils by esteemed but not well known nineteenth and twentieth painters. I’d say the vases were intrinsically far more valuable but that’s not reflected in the estimates.
These kind of things must be returned to Greece's ministry of antiquities, not sold off at auctions. Sorry but that is taking a country's history away from it which is something not good at all. People should not have ancient items of immense historical importance at their homes. They should instead be safe in museums of their respective country and origin.
@@scorpioninpink Not even close. Politicians are corrupt in all countries across the world, not just in Greece. Greece is the one who always gets the blame, even though the country is making significant progress. Political corruption is everywhere and we all know it. People always turn a blind eye to the political corruption of the "rich West," and the irony is that it's the 'rich West' which has actually taken so many historical artifacts. Historical artifacts not only of Greece, but of other countries as well. Especially countries in the African continent. The point is that a country's historical artifacts, should never be sold as if they were, in any way, "everyday objects" which people can showcase like a vase they bought at an everyday shop. These Historical artifacts of immense historical significance are an integral part of a country's history, and should never be commercialized. Have a good day, K
But selling some raises money and awareness for the conservation of other artefacts. Also, museums have warehouses full of artefacts that never even get seen by the public. By selling a small number, they are appreciated.
@@kyrichr4656 Greece is the highlight of corruption because they tanked their economy most western nations havet fall prey to such financial mismanagement
@@henrylivingstone2971 thanks for commenting 🤗unfortunately not! However vases are easier to fall and break being handled with gloves, instead of hands
@@sagidasyed6314 Considering he’s an expert with years of expertise of handling objects like this, I’m sure he knows what he’s doing. He’s not just some shmuck off the streets, he’s an expert in his field.
@@sagidasyed6314 But that’s cuz they have to extract artifacts from dirt and rubble. This guy obviously isn’t an archaeologist, he’s either a conservationist, a scholar, or an academic in the field of ancient classical artifacts.
a different video just said they are rare. and here we are at an auction company selling to some rich kids to put it in a special warehouse 😑 never seen again. so who cares about condition
