New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-04
COLLECTING ANTIQUITIES.
FN"eNlrNCEs WITH TIE REAL AID THE
TCAVDIlENT


From Memoirs Of Old Collector count Mi
chaci Ty skicwicS).
AT this time Alessandro Castellani far
from possessing the profound knowledge of mat
tiers of art that distinguished him later TO-
gcher we began our education. l VIII not say
a. archUplogiSts, but as amateurs ana c"l'c'ors
/ explored the suburbs and the shops OF tne
dealers. buying recklessly anything that took
my fancy. AT this period | he'an" more ana
more fascinated 10y gems, while tast"iIah ue-
vclopod a weakness fur painted vases. We met
daily and seeing my passion Tor chiraNtn
stores. Castellani proposed To WIZ" |" nis
friends and relations III Rome his na'lNc cit!
urom which he had been eXil'd FOR pon'l'al r1a-
sons in 1Si>) begging them 10 SEND To Nap@s
all the gem 20 he found in Rome Wh'h USUAL!
overlooked with them. tn" result was what
might have been expected. / was stu novice
in this branch of art and 'aStciIali haiui!
more experienced. In fifteen months had eA-
pended 12.,O0u fCancs Uo,tE'D in gems, TWO
thirds OF them at east being modern a fact we
were both far from guessing. But toward the
end of this time my eyes became lt'l" sharper
in detecting the good from the bad, thanks to
thn counsel of more learned friends, and also
from the comparison of the bulk of my a'quls-
tons with q few that were really first class,
which, luckily had been sold me with The rest
Saddened with my own folly. | sold the whole
collection To Castellani for the fourth part or
what il had cost me, and he. WITH more sense
than l had shown. Needed out the palpaply
false gems left the doubtful ones Ca large num-
bcr) added some that he had bought at a later
date, ana ended by selling them ali 20 ,hc
British Museum. 1t was a lesson Tor me, anu Il
good lesson too. From that time understo0d
that i must study the science II gems from the
very beginning. and threw myself into II with
al ardor which was soon its own reward.
! had paid repeated visits To the excavations
Of Pompci This interesting work was pro
crossing very slowly not more than three or
four houses i'cing brought To light in the course
Of the winter. | therefore proposed l" thc au
thorities To undertake at my own cost the cxca-
walton of an entire district Of Pomp"ii. leaving
To- the State not only the scientific erection Oh
he. ri 6 n II
coyeri.s bat also the choice of the WOlkneh
and ~ their overseers. only reserved To my
self the preroeatiVe of increasing or dmnsh-
ing their numbers. and that of beng present a I
ali their OPERATIONS | likewise pledged ys"l
20 finish the excavation or the district "l'h'f III
two OF at most three winters But 10 my Sred'
stup.faction my offer was rejected IL was
consid. raile tim. before could ascertain the
reason II then transpircd that tn" state had
IN its pay a arg. number of men. some 10 dlS
others to overlook. and II was IN the interest," ol
hes. hands to prolong the work as long as
possible and they by no means desired 10 nave
this pleasant state OF things upset.
Al the Villa Massmo, opposite -. John Lat
eran. dwelt a certain Checco. who acted as pof-
ter Ever, morning this little old man took
walk among the neighboring VINEYARDS. ana
had gossip with the owners and thelf VINE
dresscrs He heard OF any discoveries they had
mad. in the course of their work. ANA n was
able to buy whatever he wanted Tor Only a le"
sous ANY collector, therefore, who called upon
Chrcco at home was sure 81 hndns something
In the Way of gems or coins. The old man was
absolutely ignorant OF the value of what ne sOd
but he had good taste and good luck, ana IA
harry instinct led him to buy the best stones
oplv His prices were low, although high enough
for him to realize considerable profit, ana his
door was constantly besiegcd by all the dealers
I'm Rome whom for a long time he supplied
largely At length the amateurs found him
out and offered h m prices for his wares OF
which he had never dreamed and from that
tim, he always put aside what was best, So
thar they might have the first choice
In the Rome of that day, no less cel' hrated
than his namesakc, there was another Checco
who kept a tobaccOnist's shop III the PIaZza
Rarberjnj Like CheccO L. H. was a daily visitor
TO The vineyards beyond the walls and was
kept supplied with antiquities by the peasants
who came on Sundays To buy his cigars. Fine
CONS we're his speciality also. and every week
his clients provided him with a certain number
Of excellent stones To dispose Of Ii was from
him that ". Pauvcrt dc la ChapeiIe bought 'he
cameo signed DiodOtus and many intagliVs Of
rare beauty.