Authentically exotic and authentically beautiful: constructing the authenticity of Peruvian antiquities at Sotheby’s and eBay
Influenced by many cultural, economic and historic factors, the antiquities market of Andean archaeological artefacts is a complex issue. Authenticity is one of the most important aspects upon which the attribution of value within the antiquities trade depends. On the one hand, a theoretical discour...
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| Format: | Print Article |
| Language: | English |
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2021
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| In: |
Crime and art
Year: 2021, Pages: 135-151 |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Summary: | Influenced by many cultural, economic and historic factors, the antiquities market of Andean archaeological artefacts is a complex issue. Authenticity is one of the most important aspects upon which the attribution of value within the antiquities trade depends. On the one hand, a theoretical discourse around the concept of ‘constructed authenticity’ inevitably derives from the contradiction generated between the almost total absence of data regarding archaeological provenience and the value assigned to these commodified antiquities. On the other, like beauty and culture, the opposition between true and false is also culturally constructed and changes throughout an object’s biography. I argue that authenticity can be polysemic and Peruvian antiquities that cannot be authenticated archaeologically can be perceived as authentic differently: authentically exotic or authentically beautiful. Even though e-commerce and in-person auction houses have many divergences, a comparison allows for a focus on the cross issues connected to authenticity. Indeed, a juxtaposition of two listings offering similar items on sale in eBay and Sotheby’s allows a discussion on how those artefacts are perceived outside of the national borders where they were collected, and how this perception impacts on selling techniques and venues. |
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| Item Description: | Literaturverzeichnis: Seite 149-151 |
| Physical Description: | Illustrationen |
| ISBN: | 9783030848569 |
