Share the love… Item Number: 100032 $0.00

DescriptionEvery once in a while we get letters from parents or teachers asking if we can help provide information about some culture or another, or what the purpose of a specific type of artifact might have been. I’m sure many dealers get these requests, and some perhaps simply ignore them and go along their busy lives trying to buy or sell more ancient art to further their business goals. I actually love receiving these emails and try as hard as I can to accommodate each and every one with a thoughtful, insightful reply.

Last week, a parent in California asked “My son is doing a middle school project on Pre-Columbian pottery. He has seen many tripod bowls with rattle feet, but has not been able to find the exact use of this piece. We are assuming it would be a ceremonial object, but not sure. Seems that a bowl would lose its contents if it was being "rattled" while full of liquid.”

I was happy to oblige and answered this email promptly, and then for some crazy reason, I asked for the student’s address. From my shelf of “smalls” (items not worthy of putting up on the Artemis web site, and not yet having the Band-width to list on eBay), I found a small Cocle seed jar, and sent it to him. Not sure why, but it just seemed like the right thing to do. This morning, I got this email:

“We really are so moved by your generosity! Hanks called many friends and relatives to share his excitement over the beautiful seed jar. My husband was thrilled to see him so enthusiastic about this. He does love history, and putting the pieces of the past together using art only makes sense.

I drove Hanks to school this morning (somehow, we felt the jar should avoid a bus full of middle school children!) so he could share the treasure with his classmates. His teacher was overwhelmed and so excited - he just kept saying, "Wow!" Hanks was bursting with pride…”

Needless to say when I read this email, I was probably more thrilled than Hanks! Teresa is one of the few people who know that beneath my hard, rugged, manly exterior is a true softy, and this email touched me deep to the core. I am into ancient art because it moves me. I could probably spend a year writing about why it moves me, and still couldn’t fully do justice to the subject. It just moves me. And to know, in a small way that I have touched another, well that moves me too.

As collectors (and fellow dealers), I certainly don’t expect you to go sending off your treasures to spread the love, but if you get a chance to share your passion – take it! I can’t think of an elementary or middle school in the country that wouldn’t be thrilled to have real ancient art available for the kids to see, and touch. Or a museum who couldn’t use your help as a volunteer (docent) to provide tours of the ancient art exhibits. Share the love! Take it from a guy who is bursting with joy this morning, it’s worth it!

Happy collecting – and happy art appreciation!
Bob Dodge