Archaeological antiquities are objects made by ancient peoples and recovered from the ground, from rivers or from old collections, ranging from flint tools and pottery to bronze figures, glass vessels, coins, jewellery and carved stone. The term usually covers material from prehistory through the classical civilisations of Egypt, Greece and Rome to the early medieval period.
The British taste for antiquities grew strongly during the eighteenth century, when young men on the Grand Tour brought home marbles, vases and fragments to furnish libraries and country-house cabinets. Such collections remain an important source of material on the market today. Because the trade in looted objects is a serious international concern, legitimate dealing depends on documented provenance showing that a piece left its country of origin lawfully, ideally before 1970, the date of the UNESCO convention on cultural property. Export licences may be required, and in England, Wales and Northern Ireland the Treasure Act 1996 governs certain finds, while Scotland has its own treasure trove system. Collectors look for authenticity, a clear collecting history, honest condition and the absence of heavy modern restoration. Displayed thoughtfully, even modest Roman oil lamps or Egyptian amulets bring a sense of deep history to a room.
