Category: Artifacts & Archeology

Latest World Art News about Artifacts, Archology, and the Ancient Works of Art

Is Art Financing Terrorism?

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Art and terrorism seem to be worlds apart, however what most people perceive as heritage and culture – criminal organizations see as cold hard cash. Cash that is hard to trace and very easy to move undetected through any borders of any country.

First crucial point to understand is that when we are talking about art, we do not mean your local flea market ‘stuff’. Nor do we limit ourselves to just paintings. We are talking about high-end ‘movable cultural property’ consisting of art, antiques, and collectibles … very expensive art, antiques, and collectibles. Items that by far exceed a $100,000 dollars benchmark.

Second point to understand – there are lots of them, everywhere, in every country, city, and town. In fact there will never be a shortage of them. With the latest modern art hype the market literally became a factory. These modern creations are breaking multimillion dollar records at top auctions around the world.

Deposition of Christ by Donatello – The Mystery of a Restoration

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We learned from the press that the Pontifical Delegation for the Basilica of Saint Anthony of Padua appointed a scientific committee composed of four scholars to evaluate the conservation and restoration program of the “Equestrian Statue of Gattamelata” which stands out in the square adjacent to the Basilica of Padua.

Since 2020, Ce.St.Art and the association Territori have conceived, promoted, and presented a far-reaching project which covers not only the restoration of the “Gattamelata Statue” but above all the restoration of the “Deposition of Christ” by Donatello stored inside the Basilica and which, while representing an absolute masterpiece of the Italian Renaissance, is in a questionable condition.

Raphael’s First Signed Painting: The “Mystic Marriage of Saint Catherine” of Città di Castello

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Mystic Marriage of Saint Catherine, Raphael

In 2010 the “(crypto)signature” in stylized letters “RAFFAEL SANT PXT” and the date 1501 in Roman numerals “MDI” were discovered inserted in the arabesque decoration of the border of Saint Catherine’s mantle.

The presence of Raphael in Città di Castello in those years is proven by the historical sources and consolidated by studies and therefore the date shown on the “small tablet or small panel painting” is perfectly consistent with the biographical events of the Artist.

Moreover, Raphael’s practice of affixing his signature and cryptosignature on paintings was his typical habit during his youthful period and it was also a practice of many other artists before becoming famous.

Top 10 Micromosaics Through the Ages

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Micromosaics were first made in Mesopotamia some six thousand years ago. In the late 18th century this long surviving technique became a decorative art and was often used in jewellery.

It has a large presence in Switzerland and GemGenève is on a mission to make it fashionable again. Which is why this autumn they dedicated an entire exhibition space to the Magnificent Art of Micromosaics!

From Switzerland to Italy, from Villa Boscéaz to the Gilbert Collection at the V&A Museum, from the the Doves of Pliny to the The Dream of Karpa Koï bracelet by Maurizio Fioravanti, the exhibition “Micromosaics Through The Ages” offers visitors an overview of this lost art and expertise through unpretentious scenography.

The Most Expensive Gold Antique in the World – $35 Million Persian Necklace

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This stunning necklace is considered to be one of the rarest privately owned gold artifacts in the World!

Known as ‘The Star Crescent Necklace’ it is actually an ancient jewellery set that archeologists call ‘Parthian-Sarmatian Royal Gold Necklace and Amulet’.

This necklace is believed to have been first created in Parthia, an ancient Persian empire that existed from 247 BC to 224 AD, but eventually came into possession of the Sarmatians, the legendary nomadic Indo-Iranian warriors that spread throughout the Eurasian Steppe.

Now, in our exclusive art investigation, we’re going to unveil all the fascinating secrets about this Royal artifact!

Reb Nachman’s Second Chair – Hasidic Holy Relic Worth $10 Million

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Reb Nachman’s Second Chair

The World Art News presents one of the Holiest Jewish Relics that is known to exist in a private collection – the Second Chair of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov (1772 – 1810).

With the Star of David in the front, a hypnotic Jewish Rabbi in the center, and a Yiddish inscription of Reb Nachman’s name on the back, this chair is stunning in its craftsmanship and Judaic beauty. The aura of history radiates from this rare artifact.

Reb Nachman remains among the most quoted Hasidic masters and to this day tens of thousands of Jews from all over the world travel to his burial site as part of their annual pilgrimage.

Is Saudi Prince About To Buy $36M Chinese Ming Dynasty Statuettes

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After our first publication about these rare $36 Million Chinese Ming Dynasty statuettes, The World Art News received further questions regarding their provenance, authenticity, valuation, and who may be the potential buyer of these unique artifacts. For answers we went straight to the source and took a sensational, exclusive, and provocative in-depth interview with their current owner, prof. Mikhail Tamoikin, Ph.D.

Professor Tamoikin was surprisingly candid with us and gave stunning answers to all our questions. If you ever wandered how the super-rich do business, negotiate, and operate in the art market, this interview is a Must-Read!

Could two Chinese Ming Dynasty statuettes be worth more than $36 Million

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It appears that one major art fund is looking to find out. You might have heard that in 2014 a Shanghai-based art collector Liu Yiqian spent $36.3 million on a tiny porcelain Ming Dynasty cup. That news made the art reporters buzz for the whole year, bringing fame and fortune to Mr. Yiqian, and making it clear to the whole world that Chinese heritage has value, a lot of value!

The Tamoikin Art Fund (TAF) is clearly looking to test this theory, because recently it unveiled two ancient Chinese statuettes that have been attributed to the Ming Dynasty, which ruled China from 1368 to 1644.

The Most Expensive Sword in the World – $100 Million Samurai Tachi

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This Tachi sword belonged to one of the most famous warlords in Japanese history – the great Fukushima Masanori (1561–1624).

He is known as one of the Seven Spears of Shizugatake for his actions in the Battle of Shizugatake, where he had the honor of first blood.

Throughout his life, he fought in many campaigns, including the Battle of Ch’ungju during the Japanese Invasion of Korea in 1592.

The sword is currently in the Tamoikin Art Fund and is considered to be one of their most valuable assets. It has been appraised at over $105 million and was featured in the prestigious Forbes 400.

The Bones of the Earth

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Stone is demanding in its application to art and architecture, requiring great effort and discipline to procure, move, and fashion. It is a subtractive process, where any mistake can prove fatal to the intended product, requiring meticulous care and attention to detail. The inherent properties of stone are that it is insulative, with generally low heat conductivity, and durable, with high compressive strength. As with all things in life, while it retains varying degrees of vulnerability to weathering and deterioration, stone is generally considered to be one of the most resistant materials in existence. These properties lend themselves to a compelling philosophical argument, that those who wish to live a life or build a world of enduring strength and beauty, should not only employ the use of stone in their craft, but model themselves after it as well.