Those of us who deal responsibly in antiquities need a reputable body to represent us. Such a body must include not just a code of conduct for its members, but also some demonstration of competence and knowledge. I believe the best way of achieving this is through exams!
I do not consider that the ADA fulfils such a role. Hitherto, it has been no more than an "old boys" club. The majority of its members are quite obviously unwilling to admit new members in case they prove a financial threat to them! Several new hard working dealers have been refused membership for no good reason - no adequate explanations given. The existing members seem to wallow in their own perceived importance!
This is the kind of behaviour that stigmatizes the profession and will ultimately lead to its weakness and destruction. Fake sellers will benefit from such corrupt behaviour in the long run...
The ADA now has a new president in the UK who is more enlightened. We can only hope that things will change.
The American ADA has suffered comparable embarrassment in recent years, seeing a past president serving a prison sentence for an alleged involvement in the smuggling of an antiquity from Egypt.
As sellers, buyers, and collectors of antiquities we neen urgent professional organisation and representation before it is too late.
Already newspapers and the mass media are taking "pot shots" at us - there is a perceived "open season"!
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Uh ... yeah, they already have a system for this, it's called the university system! You start certifying dealers and you will end up with dealers acting just like the univerity types; hording and locking things up in the name of all that is studied and protected from the unwashed masses.
ReplyDeleteWell, I hope this would not happen. We have to do something at this stage - what do you suggest?
ReplyDeleteRegards,
I believe your making the assumption that something *needs* to be done. You get one fiefdom that acts a little spoiled and now we have to have regulations! Changes! Exams! Are you not then guilty of doing the same thing they are? Requiring that your newest members have some set level of competence that you then set the level of ... where does it stop? What is considered "good enough?"
ReplyDeleteWhat if somebody comes along and knows more than you? Do you then step down and let that person run the show so to raise the bar now over *your* head?
Like I said, the university system says that a PHD is "good enough" and you see where that has gotten us (no, I do not have a PHD) If you want exams, then return to school and get a PHD. (And you think the the fiefdoms and politics are tough out here! wait 'till you become a good doctor!)
Collecting and dealing is always about the race between the scholars and the "greedy little dealers" (what the press says) ... if we get lucky, the piece is "out of context" and *they* wont be bothered. If it's "in context" then it is archaeology and it will never see the light of day; we don't need to worry about it. (Which is a huge lose to everyone!)
... If they won't let you join, then start your own club. But trying to make every one else meet *your* standards, well, you're acting just as spoiled as they are.
One should never be frightened of progress. This is not about one individual assuming control or exclusive power...
ReplyDeleteWell applied progress leads to fantastic results - medicine has taught me this. As dealers, we are responsible for selling expensive and often important cultural objects to our collectors. They in turn deserve some degree of proven competence and knowledge from us - this is only fair and common sensical. They do not deserve an "old boys club" fiasco...