ABSTRACT

This is all well known but there have been, surprisingly, few attempts to analyse the actual market situation, perhaps due to a fear of ‘contamination’ among archaeologists working in related areas. However, in consequence, it is now impossible to research into the modern collecting of antiquities without also considering the source of the objects. This chapter considers the field of Greek vases and approaches the phenomenon from two different angles in order to understand the different mechanisms at work. The aim is to investigate the development of the art market in order to see if certain changes on the market can be detected and explained. This has been done in two ways. First, from the perspective of the seller, through an analysis of the actual market supply, and, second, from that of the buyer, through studies of eight selected collections, of which one is examined in detail.