The Stanford University Museum of Art is in the process of reviewing
its encyclo0pedic holdings and coordinating its collections with its
educational mission.  As part of this process we will be reducing
the size (but not the scope) of our collection of ancient Cypriot
pottery.
 
In 1884, Jane and Leland Stanford purchased 5000 "duplicate"
examples from the Cesnola Collection belonging to the Metropolitan
Museum of Art, NY.  This group was personally selected by General
Cesnola, who had become director of the MMA and who had initially
created the MMA's collection while he was American consul in Cyprus.
 
The Cypriot materials were featured in the massive museum build by
the Stanfords at the University they founded.  In 1906, however,
many were damaged in the devestating earthquake which, among its
other consequences, resulted in the virtual closure of the museum
until the mid 1950s.  During this period, portions of the Cypriot
collection were studied and restored (largely under the guidance of
Hazel Hansen), but there were also some documented and undocumented
removals from the collection.  In addition, some 150 objects were
designated as "duplicates" and deaccessioned about 1964 at the time
T.B.L. Webster published a checklist.
 
We have now reviewed the collection again and with the advice of
Cypriot specialists and a classical scholar, we have selected
+/-2000 pieces that essentially "summarize" the collection, enabling
the museum to document comprehensively the range and development of
Cypriot ceramics from the Iron Age to the time of Rome.
 
We are considering the disposition of the remaining portion.
Ideally we would like to exchange them with other institutions.
Although we would prefer to exchange Cypriot wares for objects from
other cultures in the ancient Mediterranean world (or for Cypriot
examples otherwise unrepresented in our collection), we will also
consider other objects that fit within our broad collection
parameters, for example, duplicate prints, African or Native
American objects, etc.
 
For more information, please contact Bernard Barryte, Chief Curator/
Stanford University Museum of Art/ Stanford, CA 94305-5060/ phone:
(415) 725-0466/ fax:  (415) 725-0464/ e-mail:
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