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WORLD MARKETPLACE NEWS with Managing Editor Judy Gonyeau

OCCRP – Thailand’s Central BOSTON, MA – On the late afternoon of September 7, the doors
Investigation Police (CIB) abruptly closed at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston.
seized approximately 1,000 art Officials had learned that climate protesters were planning a visit
artifacts and antiques on during the hours when the cultural institution offers free admission.
September 5th and detained The activist group Extinction Rebellion were planning to enter the
three people accused of illicit Museum and place their own posters and statements within the
excavation and trading in antiq- empty frames that remained in place since the 1990 theft where
uities. Following a tip from an
antique preservation club,
investigators targeted nine locations across four provinces in a joint
CIB and the country’s Fine Arts Department operation, resulting in
the apprehension of the defendants and the seizure of metal
scanners and other tools used to discover and excavate items at
archaeological sites. Thai authorities said that the unlawfully
obtained antiques, which included a 1,600-year-old bull sculpture and
a 15th-century bronze elephant with a seal-imprinted platform, as well
as porcelain utensils, tattoo needles, ancient coins, and jewelry, were
advertised for sale on Facebook. Investigators reportedly discovered masterpieces by Rembrandt, Vermeer, and others were ripped from
more than US$280,000 in illegally sold antiques on Facebook in their frames. Said Museum Director Peggy Fogelmen, “These frames
the last three years when checking the suspects’ bank accounts. are not only important and fragile historic objects in their own
right, but they memorialize the tragic 1990 theft.” For more than a
year, climate protesters have targeted museums as a method of gaining
CBS NEWS – Imagine having a store- attention for their cause.
front destroyed by an oncoming/
incoming car … now imagine having
a car destroy your antique shop’s BUSINESS INSIDER – Designer
storefront every month for the past Thrifting is not only a way to shop, but
three months. That is what is happening one that can bring a good profit. Take, for
in Long Beach, CA to the owner of example, a shop in Florida that accepts
the Magnolia and Willow Antique & consignments for larger pieces from
Vintage Store. The owner has now vendors. Writer Virginia Chamlee was
approached City Hall with a request to enticed to go to a shed in the back at a
add more safety standards to her corner- small antique shop just to see if there was
located shop. Customers and others anything she may wish to buy. A trunk,
note that it is a busy intersection, but perhaps? Chamlee instantly became animated as she
speed and reckless driving are taking a toll on this business. Mayor spotted a travel trunk she just knew was designer,
Rex Richardson visited the shop to offer her some immediate and and forked over $90 to the shop owner (the
long-term changes to protect her and her clientele. consignee had pulled it out of her mother’s attic). It
turned out to be a Goyard trunk which typically
sells for well over $20,000. There is one just like
MORPHY AUCTIONS – Graded goods this find selling for $32,000 at 1stdibs.com.
have put a focus on quality when buyers
come to auction or sales. Now, Morphy
Auctions will be taking their expertise to REPUBLIC WORLD – India’s
the grading of Antique Advertising. The anti-smuggling agency
new company called Authentication & Directorate of Revenue
Grading Services, or AGS, is being led by Intelligence (DRI) has seized
Dan Morris, founder of the renowned antiques and historical arte-
Georgia Coca-Cola Museum, working with a facts with an estimated worth
“powerhouse team” including soda pop and of over $3.2 million on the
general antique advertising dealer Gary American market, officials said
Metz; and Carter and Irene Davis, who are on September 12. “During examination, the container was found to be
widely regarded as pioneers in the field of country store advertising. containing old statues, vintage utensils, paintings, antique furni-
The AGS website, www.agscertify.com, is now live. ture, and other valuable heritage goods. Some of the articles date
back to the 19th century,” the ministry said. “Several of these articles
were made of precious stones, gold, silver or were having gold/silver
ANTIQUES TRADE GAZETTE – Two albums by one of Japan’s coating.” Officials said a majority of the objects seized were from
most sought-after Japanese woodblock print artists—Utagawa Hiroshige European countries, especially Britain and the Netherlands.
(1797-1858)—were discovered in a cupboard in a house in the
Cevennes, in southern France, wrapped in newspaper dated 1937. The
prints were first published in serialized form in 1856-59, with THE INDEPENDENT – A poll of 2,000 adults age 45+ found
Hiroshige II completing the series after there’s a perception among this age group that used garments are
Hiroshige’s death. Entered into an “unhygienic,” “tend to be faded,” and are of “poor quality.” More
auction, they were keenly contested by than half never wear second-hand items – unwilling to wear “someone
bidders. The albums, containing else’s clothes.” Those aged 18 to 34 have a different relationship
Hiroshige’s One hundred views of Edo with used clothes – 60 percent are happy to wear such items and
featuring 119 oban prints, hammered regularly do. They’re keen on them because they’re cheaper, better for
down for $123,190 against an estimate the environment, and more unique.
of $10,700.
6 Journal of Antiques and Collectibles