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Date: | Wed, 15 Mar 2000 09:05:51 -0500 |
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Eric Deetz wrote in part:
"Most museums, when
> confronted with requests to do the same, on family heirlooms or found relics
> or flea market finds will identify items but find it unethical to give
> monetary appraisals.
Unfortunately, this is not exactly true. Consider this: A collector passes
away and leaves his/her collection of antiquities to an institution (or
individual for that matter) as part of a last will and testament. The value
of the collection must be appraised and subsequently have its value assessed
while the previous owner's estate is in probate. It doesn't seem plausible at
this juncture to avoid having the value of a collection of artifacts or other
antiquities appraised. There are far too many tax laws, probate regulations,
insurance considerations, etc. to side-step the issue of antiquity monetary
value. The appraisal of collections and collectibles will undoubtedly go on.
It follows then that the more prudent approach should include a concerted
effort to curb price inflation of collections. More appropriately,
collections need to be devalued. After all, the prices are driven by demand.
It is human nature to collect and the more elusive the prize, the greater the
value. Driving collectors and appraisers "underground" certainly will have an
adverse effect, exacerbate the problem and increase the value of collections.
Perhaps there should be more rather than less appraisals establishing a lesser
value on antiquities?
This is a far more difficult nut to crack than simply censoring national
television shows would accomplish (even if that were legally possible in this
country).
Just trying to better illuminate the deployment.
Rich Green
Historic Archaeological Research
4338 Hadley Court
West Lafayette, IN 47906
Office: (765) 464-8735
Home: (765) 464-8095
http://www.har-indy.com
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