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The modern history of the first lambousa treasure of byzantine silverware from Cyprus

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 May 2009

Robert Merrillees
Robert Merrillees
Affiliation:
R S Merrillees, Le Mimosa, 3 place de la République, 89660 Mailly-le-Château, France. E-mail: phmrsm@free.fr
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Abstract

Found in 1897, the important collection of Late Antique silverware known as the first Lambousa treasure (to distinguish it from a second find of Lambousa treasure made in 1902) was acquired in part by the British Museum in 1899. This paper reconstructs the history of the discovery of the first Lambousa treasure and the circumstances of its removal from Cyprus. Research for the paper has brought to light hitherto unknown documents, and throws new light on the collection of antiquities in the early modern era and the politics, attitudes and personalities involved.

Résumé

Découverte en 1897, l’importante collection d’argenterie de la fin de l’antiquité connue sous le nom de “premier trésor de Lambousa” (pour la distinguer d’une seconde découverte d’un trésor à Lambousa faite en 1902) fut acquise en partie par le British Museum en 1899. Cet article reconstruit l’histoire de la découverte du premier trésor de Lambousa ainsi que les circonstances de son enlèvement de Chypre. Les recherches faites pour cet article ont révélé des documents inconnus jusqu’ici et jettent un jour nouveau sur les méthodes d’acquisition de collections d’antiquités au début de l’ère moderne, ainsi que sur la politique, les attitudes et les personnalités qui y participaient.

Zusammenfassung

Eine wichtige Sammlung von Silbergegenständen aus frühbyzantinischer Zeit, der sogennannte erste Lambousa-Schatz (zu unterscheiden von dem zweiten Lambousa-Schatz, der 1902 entdeckt wurde) wurde 1899 größtenteils vom British Museum in London erworben. Diese Abhandlung rekonstruiert die Entdeckungsgeschichte des ersten Lambousa-Schatzes und die Umstände unter denen er aus Zypern abtransportiert wurde. Diese Nachforschungen haben bisher unbekannte Dokumente ans Licht gebracht und werfen neues Licht auf die Antiquarensammlung der Neuzeit und die Politik, Einstellungen und die damit verwickelten Persönlichkeiten.

Type
Original Article
Information
The Antiquaries Journal , Volume 89 , September 2009 , pp. 389 - 403
Copyright
Copyright © The Society of Antiquaries of London 2009

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