Re: Codex Argenteus - the Silver Bible

From: Jim Webster (Jim_at_zerospam.mok.net)
Date: 07/30/04 

Date: Fri, 30 Jul 2004 07:22:15 +0100

"Martin Reboul" <martin@spamfukreboul1471.freeserve.co.uk> wrote in message
news:k1kOc.6$Yi5.2@newsfe6-gui.ntli.net...
>

> > > We did recently have a fire in a warehouse full of modern art, which
> > > destroyed the lot. Mind you, as most of it was by Tracy Ermin, that
was
> > > probably a good thing :-}
> >
> > I have heard several people who reckonned that it was a piece of
performance
> > art they could really empathise with.
>
> Insurance job, no doubt! I mean, what would you rather look at, the crap
that
> got burned, or a big fat wad of cash?

Certainly helps put a bottom in the market and releases cash for new
acquisitions

>

> > I think one thing that you have to bear in mind was the method of
> > acquisition. If it was legitimately bought from a legitimate seller,
then it
> > is a different issue from where it came from out of a dodgy dealer
network
>
> The problem here is what you consider 'legitimate'. Lorg Elgin (gawd bless
'im)
> paid cash for them but bought them from a 'dodgy dealer'. Did he know? Did
he
> care? Most importantly, who cares, it was a long time ago and they're all
long
> dead.

Didn't he buy them from a official of the recognised government?

>
> All that matters (to me) is doing the right thing. The Greeks, our great
friends
> and loyal allies for centuries are rightly hurt by what appears to be
British
> reluctance to return a very important national treasure (what if the Crown
> Jewels were pinched, then sold to a Greek - same thing).

Actually the Greeks haven't been independent for centuries so they can
hardly have been our loyal allies for that length of time. Similarly if we
were so inept as to let the crown jewels be pinched, we don't deserve them
and may the new owner have joy in them. Because when they get weak and
forgetful, they will lose them as well.

Jim Webster