A PRECIOUS VASE
An interesting new feature of the Greek and Roman galleries at the British Museum, which have just been re-opened to the public, is the famous Orestes vase from tire Hope collection.
“This magnificent art treasure in terracotta has iiad some, remarkable modern vicissitudes," said Mr Arthur Smith, the keeper of these treasures. •* The vase, winch is dated 330 n.c., was saved, during the French Revolution, from the fury of'the mob by being walled up in a secret room. Afterwards it fell into the hands of Adrian Hope, the rich banker. When tho Hope collection was sold tho vas» was purchased at Christie’s by an American collector to take across the Atlantic.' Because of the submarine menace, however, tho American got ‘panicky,’ and decided to sell the treasure again rather than risk its getting sent to the bottom of the sea. With the assistance of the National Art Fund and the help of other donors, a sufficiently large sum was raised to purchase it for the nation : but, because London was bombed so badly, the vase was placed 80ft below ground in tho Post Office tube for safety. This is the first time it will have been on view as national property.’’
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ESD19190702.2.6
Bibliographic details
Evening Star, Issue 17085, 2 July 1919, Page 2
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204A PRECIOUS VASE Evening Star, Issue 17085, 2 July 1919, Page 2
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