Ancient antiquities are objects surviving from the ancient civilisations of the Mediterranean, Near East, Asia and beyond, generally made before the end of the classical world. They include pottery, sculpture, bronzes, coins, glass, jewellery, amulets, tools, weapons and inscriptions from cultures such as ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, Mesopotamia and Persia.
Collecting antiquities has a long history in Britain, from Renaissance cabinets of curiosities to the Grand Tour of the eighteenth century, when travellers returned from Italy with marbles, vases and fragments for their country houses. Many important private collections were assembled in this period and later passed to museums. Today the market is closely regulated, because of concerns about looting and illicit trade. Reputable dealers and buyers require documented provenance, ideally showing that an object left its country of origin legally and was recorded in a collection before internationally recognised dates, and export licences may be required for movement between countries. Collectors consider authenticity, condition, artistic quality and rarity, as forgeries and heavily restored pieces are common. Ancient antiquities bring a powerful sense of history to interiors, often displayed on plinths or in cabinets alongside later classical objects.
