Who owns antiquity? : museums and the battle over our ancient heritage / James Cuno.

Who owns antiquity? : museums and the battle over our ancient heritage / James Cuno.

xxxvii, 228 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm.

9780691137124
0691137129 acid-free paper
9780691148106
0691148104
9781400839247 e-book

N 637 CUN.W

"Whether antiquities should be returned to the countries where they were found is one of the most urgent and controversial issues in the art world today, and it has pitted museums, private collectors, and dealers against source countries, archaeologists, and academics. Maintaining that the acquisition of undocumented antiquities by museums encourages the looting of archaeological sites, countries such as Italy, Greece, Egypt, Turkey, and China have claimed ancient artifacts as state property, called for their return from museums around the world, and passed laws against their future export. But in Who Owns Antiquity?, one of the world's leading museum directors vigorously challenges this nationalistic position, arguing that it is damaging and often disingenuous ... Cuno argues that nationalistic retention and reclamation policies impede common access to this common heritage and encourage a dubious and dangerous politicization of antiquities--and of culture itself. Antiquities need to be protected from looting but also from nationalistic identity politics."--Jacket.

Introduction: The crux of the matter -- Political matters -- More political matters -- The Turkish question -- The Chinese question -- Identity matters -- Epilogue.
Fourth printing, and first paperback printing, with a new afterword by the author, 2011.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 207-216) and index.

Princeton University e-Book.

Princeton, N.J. : Princeton University Press, 2008.

eng