The problem with Catawiki (CEO Ravi Prakesh Vora, Amsterdam, NL) is that one really wonders about the veracity or effectiveness of their stock mollifier: "The Seller can prove that the lot was obtained legally, provenance statement seen by Catawiki". But not verified, apparently. Fibulologist Renate (see previous posts) has again uncovered some disquieting evidence that the site is being used to launder material that can be firmly documented as originating from war-torn Ukraine. At a time when there is so much concern about damage to Ukrainian cultural heritage, there is so little notice being taken in the concerns being raised about this. So once again, we are being asked to believe that ancient artefacts are capable of being in two places at once:
You noticed that? Bought from a seller with material from Kharkiv? Does Aesnumismatics still have business links with this person, and are they Russian? Why is the Austrian seller giving totally different collection histories from the one that can so easily be documented online? Parallel universes, really, or is there something to hide here? Why has Catawiki made no effort to verify the collection history of objects they are facilitating the sale of? They employ experts who should be flagging up things like this ("Oj, that ain't Ostrogothic, no way!"), and if their experts would not know an Ostrogoth if it hit them in the face, then they need to give their experts extra training. There is no such word as "goatling".More “dual presence” brooches (all offered by aesnumismatics on Catawiki)
These are artefacts that required some imagination or a scientific sensation to explain their provenance. Or a very simple one. In any case, the information on Violity.com and Catawiki.com do not match.
Violity.com: Фибула Пеньковской культуры. (checked 16. Jul. 2022). Seller's description: Fibula of the Penkovo culture. Type: Fibulae (Germanic, Penkovsky and subsequent cultures), Material: Bronze of all types, including pewter bronze, Location: Chmelnyzka oblast, Sending lot to: Ukraine, sold on 28. Aug. 2021 for 1 000 UAH (33.99 $)
Catawiki.com: Iron Age Bronze Lovely Brooch/Figurine of a Goatling with very interesting shape of the body & Abstractive Style (checked 16. Jul. 2022), the seller aesnumismatics writes: “Purchased by the current owner in 2016 in Austria, Wien. Collected Since: 1990's. Previous owners history: Old Austrian Private Collection.” Sold on 07. Feb. 2022 for € 80Violity.com: Литейная форма(матрица) для изготовления фибул (checked 16. Jul. 2022). Seller's description: Foundry mould (die) for fibula fabrication. Type: Fibulae (Greece, Rome, Celts, Zarubinets, Sarmatians), Material: Bronze of all types, including pewter bronze, Location: Kharkiv region, Sending lot to: Ukraine, sold on 22. Dec. 2020, 18:54:28 for 1 200 UAH (40.79 $)
Catawiki.com: Ancient Roman Bronze Important Matrix Created to Cast Brooch- Fibulas. Exceedingly Rare, especially in this Superb Grade (checked 16. Jul. 2022), the seller aesnumismatics writes: “Purchased by the current owner in 2016 in Austria, Wien. Collected Since: 1990's. Previous owners history: Old Austrian Private Collection.” bidding ended 30. May 2022, not sold
another attempt on Catawiki.com: https://www.catawiki.com/en/l/60022823 (checked 16. Jul. 2022), bidding ended 04. Jul. 2022, not soldViolity.com: Фибулы пеньковская культура (checked 16. Jul. 2022). Seller's description: Fibulae of the Penkovo culture. Type: Fibulae (Germanic, Penkovsky and subsequent cultures), Material: Copper and high grade copper alloys, Location: Kharkiv, Sending lot to: Ukraine, sold on 30. Okt .2020, for 6 500 UAH (220.94 $)
Catawiki.com: Great Migration Period, Germanic tribes Bronze Ostrogothic Zoomorphic Brooch-Fibula with Four Ravens Heads in Openwork Technique & Two Dragon Heads (only right one of the Violity auction) (checked 16. Jul. 2022), the seller aesnumismatics writes: “Purchased by the current owner in 2016 in Austria, Wien. Collected Since: 1990's. Previous owners history: Old Austrian Private Collection.” bidding ended 01. Jun. 2022, not sold
another attempt on Catawiki.com: https://www.catawiki.com/en/l/60240827 (checked 16. Jul. 2022), bidding ended 14. Jul. 2022, not sold
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