An Introduction to Greek Vases | Christie's

International Head of Antiquities G. Max Bernheimer surveys some magnificent Greek vases.

For a civilisation that disappeared 2,000 years ago, the ancient Greeks left a great deal behind: philosophy, democracy, poetry, architecture, and an extensive corpus of vases, which comprise a large part of the archaeological record.

Their enduring popularity is reflected in the breadth of their influence on contemporary art — as seen in the pottery of Grayson Perry and Picasso, and in the paintings of de Chirico and Jonas Wood.

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[marioula]

Indeed today it's illegal to sell greek antiquities that comes from an excavation or a site but most likely these came from private collections that are established, catalogued and are known to the ministry. Also, there are many times you hear that an artifact came up for auction that known as being stolen and the culprit is captured and the artifact is returned to Greece. There is a special unit that deals with this stuff and they collaborate with all the big auction houses in the world.
This is also the same reason why metal detecting in Greece is usually not allowed or you have to get a special permit because you will easily find something ancient without having to search too hard.

[spookyncutey]

I have some Greek vases that were made in Rhodes i love them ! Mine have greek goddesses on them with a tribal style design x

[Ephilates]

I was recently looking at the prices of a Sotheby’s auction with lots containing sixth century Greek vases — Athenian, Euboean. The pieces appeared to be in excellent condition, with provenance. Although essentially priceless, their estimates were pretty affordable — $8, 000 - $30, 000. There were Etruscan bronze kraters as well — same. To appreciate the bargain, compare the prices against oils by esteemed but not well known nineteenth and twentieth painters. I’d say the vases were intrinsically far more valuable but that’s not reflected in the estimates.

[taylastudios]

Have you dropped a ceramic before? That is my only question.

[noblenotes]

The damn music is to loud. Good god man. The heck with the impressive thrilling music.

[scorpioninpink]

Are they still auctioning these stuff? If only I have a money, I would have bid. Especially Athenian potteries.

[VLAD-yuul]

Him holding the vases like that made me have anxiety

[tseamus]

I want an apulian or an attic type but the erotic one..

[Okynous]

These should be in a museum, and not in your hands.

[nebadon]

Congratulations thieves!!!Those should be in a museum how you got them???How you legally sell stolen artifacts????

[kyrichr]

These kind of things must be returned to Greece's ministry of antiquities, not sold off at auctions. Sorry but that is taking a country's history away from it which is something not good at all. People should not have ancient items of immense historical importance at their homes. They should instead be safe in museums of their respective country and origin.

[kabamaru_Iga_No]

Selling ancient art and antiquities is illegal. This is a disgrace!

[sagidasyed]

Unfortunately the vases shown in these videos are fake, and copies. If he were holding them like that he would be in jail

[neredan]

a different video just said they are rare. and here we are at an auction company selling to some rich kids to put it in a special warehouse 😑 never seen again. so who cares about condition