South Italian Pottery in the Museum of Fine Arts,Boston Acquired Since 1983

Abstract

The 2006 deaccessioning of antiquities from the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA), Boston, for return to Italy drew attention to the networks allowing objects to be sold on the market. This case study analyzes 13 South Italian pots (Apulian and Paestan) acquired by the MFA since its revised accessions policy of 1983. Only three appear to have documentation showing that they were known prior to 1970, and another three were part of the 2006 return. The remaining pots are associated with restorers and dealers who have been linked to the trade in recently surfaced antiquities. This suggests that museums need to adopt more rigorous policies to ensure that they do not acquire antiquities that may have been removed illegally from archaeological sites.