I am, I hope, breaking no laws in posting the following story that
appears, along with a fine colour photograph, on the front page of today's
*The Times* (London). This is in the interest of scholarship, after all.
The sign normally used to signify 'pound(s) sterling' appears as '#'.
Following this, in a separate message, I will be posting an article from
page 20 of today's *The Times*, by Henry Mayr-Harting.
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Battle to save the Becket casket
BY DALYA ALBERGE, ARTS CORRESPONDENT
BRITAIN has just six days to save a jewel of the nation's heritage.
A spectacular 12th-century casket which is believed to have held a relic
of St Thomas Becket, is to be sold by Sotheby's on Thursday.
The reliquary casket or chasse, which may have contained one of
Becket's bones, a fragment of his clothing or a lock of his hair, could
be lost for ever unless the Victoria and Albert Museum can raise several
million pounds before the sale.
Sotheby's is estimating that it will fetch about #1.5 million at
auction, although there is nothing comparable to guide them; others are
forecasting much more. Canada is among its most likely destinations: a
noted collector of medieval antiquities lives there. The Getty Museum in
California and the Metropolitan Museum in New York are also being
suggested as possible buyers.
The striking 1190s casket, 12in long, 11 3/4 in high and 4 1/2 in
wide, bears Limoges enamelling that is unrivalled in Britain. Expressive
figures, each with repouss copper heads, tell the story of Becket's murder
and martydom.
Scholars and clergymen argue that, as one of the earliest
representations of the saint in existence, this is just the kind of
heritage treasure which the National Lottery should be saving for Britain.
For some, this has a far stronger heritage case than the Seurat painting
bought for the National Gallery with #8 million of lottery funds. A grant
from the National Lottery Fund has been promised, but it is not enough.
The heritage lottery fund generally covers 75 per cent of the purchase
figure for works of more than #100,000, insisting that the rest be raised
through "partnership funding". One observer said there was nothing
stopping the fund giving more than the 75 per cent.
Philippa Glanville, the V&A's chief curator of metalwork, silver and
jewellery, said that they had received a number of donations but they
were not confident of getting the casket. "This has historical resonance
and a wonderful provenance. As well as being beautiful, it has great
presence. It is one of the great objects."
The casket has been on loan to the British Museum since 1979, when it
was acquired by the British Rail Pension Fund, which was then investing
some #40 million in art: since 1987, the Fund has been selling off the
collection. As the casket was in a German collection before being
purchased by the BR Fund, it is not bound by export rules. July 4 is
Britain's last chance to save it.
Virginia Bottomley, the National Heritage Secretary, has the power to
intervene and direct the distributing bodies. Scholars and historians are
appealing for the heritage lottery fund's chairman, Lord Rothschild, to
provide the full grant. The National Art Collections Fund, Britain's
largest art charity, started the campaign with a #100,000 grant. It
remains committed to saving the work.
Among scholars voicing concern about its possible departure is the
medievalist Michael Kauffmann. He said: "It is a splendid piece. Becket
was a national saint until Henry VIII had him scrubbed out. He was one of
the most popular saints in Europe at around 1200. It would be a pity if
the largest and most beautiful manifestation of that cult went abroad."
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George Ferzoco
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