The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-12-18

Experiences with the Real and the
Fraudulent

fFou0Ulc0t.
Al this time AIessandro CasteIiani was
far from possessing the profound knowl-
edge OF matters Of art that distinguished
him later. Together we besan our educa-
ton. / will not say as archaeologists, but
as amateurs and collectors. / explored the
suburbs and the shops OF the dealers. buy
Ing reckiessiy anything that took my
fancy. Al this period 1 became more and
more fascinated by gems. while Casteilani
developed a weakness for painted vases.
We met daily and. seeing my passion for
engraved stones, Castellani proposed TO
write 10 his friends and relations in Rome,
his native city (from which he had been
exiled for political reasons in isisl. beg
g!ng them to send TO Naples all the gems
10 be found in Rome. which usually over
flowed with them The result: was what
might have been expected was stiH
novice In this branch of art and Cast allGEi
hardly more experienced. In fifteen months
i had expended 1900 francs (f5.G0l -
gems. two-thirds of them at least beng
modern-a fact We were both far from
guessing. But toward the end of this time
my eyes became little sharper IN detect
ing the good from the bad. thanks 10 the
counsel Of more learned friends. and also
from the comparison OF the bulk of my
acquisitions with a few that were really
first class. which, luckily, had been sold
he with the rest. Saddened with my own
folly, sold the whole collection to Castel-
lani for the fourth part OF what il had cost
me, and he. with more sense than / had
shown, weeded out the palpably false
gems, left the doubtful ones "a large num-
berl, added some that he HAD bought at a
later date. and ended by selling them all
to the British Museum. II was lesson for
NE. and good lesson, too. From that
time / understood that l must study the
science OF gems from the very beginning,
and l threw myself into 1t with an ardor
which was soon its own reward.
l had paid repeated visits TO the excava-
tons of Pompeii. This interesting work
was progressing very slowly. not more than
three or four houses being brought to light
in the course Of the winter. I therefore
proposed TO the authorities to undertake at
my own cost the excavation OF an entire
district OF Pompeii, leaving 10 the state not
only the scientific direction OF the digging
and, of course, the right to my discoveries,
but also the choice of the workmcn and OF
their overseers. I only reserved 10 myself
the prerogative of increasing or diminish
ing their numbers. and that of being pres
ent at all their operations. I likewise
pledged myself TO finish the excavation of
the district either in two, or a. most three,
winters. But TO my great stupefacton my
offer was rejected. II was Il conslderab bic
time before i could ascertain the reason.
III
pay a large number Of men. some 20 dig.
others TO overlook. and il was In the inter-
est of these hands TO prolong the work
as long as possible. and they by no means
desired to have this pleasant stat OF things
upset.
AT the Villa Massimo, opposite S.. John
Lateran. dwell 4, certain Checco. who act
"a as porter. Every morning this little old
man took n walk among the nc.ghboring
rfv rA hai ync witt no ouyH
ers and their yinedressers He heard Of
any discoveries they had maze In the
course of their work. and he was able 10
buy whatever he wanted for only few
sous Any collecor. therefore, who called
upon Checco at home was sure of finding
something in the way Of gems or coins.
The Old man was absolutely ignorant of
the value OF what he sold. but he had good
taste and good luck. and happy instinct
led him to buy the best stones only. His
prices were low. although high enough for
him 10 realize q considerable profit, ard his
door was constantly bosieged by all the
dealers In Rome. whom for a long time he
supplied largely. AZ length the amateurs
found him out. and offered him prices for
his wares of which he had never dreamed.
and from that time he always put aside
what was best, SO that they might have
the frs; choice
In the Rome OF that day no less ceie-
brated than his namesake, there was an
other Checco who kept a tobacconsrs shop
in the Piazza Barberini Like Checco l.,
he was daily visitor TO the vineyards be-
You'd the walls. and was kept supplied with
antiquities by the peasants who came on
Sundays 10 buy his cigars. Fine gems
We're his speciality also, and every week his
clients provided him with a certain num-
her OF excellent stones 10 dispose Of Il
was from him that NJ Pauvert &c IN Cha
pelle bought the cameo signed Diodotus
and many intagios OF rare beauty-From
Memoirs OF an Old Collector Count Nj
chael Tyskiewics).