[Rarebooks] FS: An Ancient Roman Silver Treasure

[Joslin Hall Rare Books, ABAA]

>From our new BOOKS ON SILVER & SILVERSMITHS Catalog-
<http://www.joslinhall.com/Catalog_308.htm>

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Maiuri, Amedeo.  "LA CASA DEL MENANDRO E IL SUO TESORO DE ARGENTERIA"

Rome; La Libreria dello Stato: [1933].
Limited to 480 sets.

An important study of the home, and the silver, of the Pompeian poet
Menandro.  Amedeo Maiuri [1886-1963] has been described as one of the most
dynamic and controversial archeologists to oversee the excavations in
Pompeii.  He was one of the first to employ a rigorously systematic and
scientific approach, instead of viewing the ruins as a treasure heap to be
plundered; unfortunately many of his excavations suffered from
under-funding and inadequate tools, and his legacy remains mixed.

There is no controversy, however, about the importance of the silver hoard
that was uncovered in the basement of the Casa del Menandro in 1930.  "In
the cellar, wrapped up in textiles and placed in the bottom of a wooden
chest, were 118 pieces of silver plate, of varying ages and styles... a
separate box placed on top of the silverware contained 20 pieces of
jewellery made of gold and precious stones, along with some gold wire and
46 coins..." writes John Tamm in his review of the book "The Insula of the
Menander at Pompeii. Vol. IV: The Silver Treasure" by Kenneth Painter
(2001).

"As Painter rightly notes", Tamm continues, "the importance of this
treasure lies not only in the artifacts, but also in the fact that they
were properly excavated, a statement that cannot be made for the other
major find from the area, the Boscoreale treasure. ...Just as this
treasure has long been of prime importance for the Roman silverware
specialist, so too has been Amedeo Maiuri's detailed publication, 'La Casa
del Menandro e il suo tesoro di argenteria'. It will doubtless remain
important, especially in light of its thorough art-historical discussions
and copious illustrations, but a present-day reader, assuming s/he could
even find a copy of the book, would have to treat it with caution. In
light of subsequent research and changes in emphasis, various aspects of
Maiuri's work need re-evaluation, if not thorough revision".

Well, we can supply a copy of this difficult-to-find book right here; we
leave the revision to others...

Hardcover.  2 volumes, rebound as one.  9.5"x12", 508 pages with 189 b/w
illustrations, plus 2 folding plans, 14 color and 49 b/w plates; rebound
bound in marbled boards with a leather spine, raised bands and gilt title;
a little light spotting on the endpapers, covers with some slight rubbing;
edges re-trimmed, but still with nice wide margins; a very nice copy. 
[05474]  $1,250.00




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