I picked this up from CultureGrrl.

You may remember my post about the new AAMD Object Registry. The site’s purpose, from the website, is stated as:

“The AAMD Object Registry provides access to all relevant information known about our members’ acquisitions of archaeological material and ancient art lacking complete provenance after November 1970, the date of the UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import and Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property. Art museums regularly acquire archaeological material and works of ancient art – of which objects with incomplete provenance represent but a fraction.”

Well, after the excitement of the site being launched, I had really all but forgotten about it. If it hadn’t been mentioned at a recent symposium I attended, it probably would have slipped my mind completely.

But, of course CultureGrrl is keeping a lookout!

The first object to be posted on the site is a Ganesha stele, purchased by the Portland Art Museum at a recent auction. The only provenance information is listed as:

“Christie’s Rockefeller Center, Sale #2024, 16 September 2008, Lot 377. Sotheby’s New York, 23 March 2000, Lot 139″

It’s not much of a start, but it’s something.