The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-01-28
philadelphia, Jan. 81

T INVESTIGATION has proved that
n S.Professor Maxwell Sommerville's
Sglyptic collection, which he pre-
scented to the University of, Pennsyl-
xvaniaS before his death few months
ago, is a collection of baubles of no
antiquarian value whatsoever; that a
5man who had given his whole life to
sthe requirement Of engraved gems and
expended 100000 in their purchase
chad either: been systematically deceived
Cor, what is more unlikely, had DELHI
Ierately planned to deceive posterity.
j Either belief is supported by evil
Sdence. The faculty of the university,
sof which the professor was an honored
lnember, take the charitable view. They
point to the whole life of, the professor,
sthe expenditure Of his fortune, his pur-
3suit of his loved science extending over
half a century, his unselfsh pride in
ibis collection, the use he made of it.,
his learning and his open character as
demonstrating the impossibility Of his
ssAnowingly being party to such a ire
snendous and useless fraud. :
/ A Recognized Antiquarian.
: On the other hand, the professor Is
knowledge of gems, which ranked him
jas the first expert in the world, is op-
posed to the theory that he could have
been deceived. He was not mere
selpsst antiquarian. He had visited and
lived in all classic countries, was thoro-
~ Informed on the most reconcile Incl
dents Of their history, their archaeology
and art, and all his long life had been
given up to the study Of his subject,
lf any person was equipped by expe.
.rienee and knowledge to pass upon the
Authenticity Of the great collection he
made it was Professor sommerville him.
self. And yet it is shown absolutely
that. almost the entire collection is bo
gus, that it's history is fraudulent, and
the carved and engraved stones them
selves were made in German workshops
for the most part all within period
of forty years. : III.
Professor sommerville was a mystic
and an enthusiast. He was deeply i'm
sbued with the spirit Of the Buddhist
sreEg1on, among whose people he lived
Tor many years. He adopted thei1
dress and accepted much Of their faith
and in the Hindoo temple which he
caused to be erected in the museum Of
gthe University Of Pennsylvania, he
spent his last days, clothed in a priest
ly dress surrounded with his treasures
sand writing learnedly and eloquently
ION the history Of his engraved bau
sbles. ,..ss:s 81 sss9=' =,
1.-THE Trump Of Constantine .
Notable among these was the. cameo
N fho ~,
tine. 1t was purchased by him 70,
$33,oOO after negotiations extending
over period of six years. It's alleged
history IS told In monograph which
she published at the time Of it's pur
chase a In this it is recorded that: /.
In 1885 Catherine II presented Thu
gem to 90. one Of her ambassadors. Ate!
his objects of art. Subsequently it fel
into the hands of banking house
from which it was purchased BY
Greek named Tuerck, who piousH
guarded it for thirty years On his de
mise 1t came to Enerdorf, Austria, when
thru purchase. it became part Of tn,
glyptic collection in Syria.
i After fully six years Of correspond
snce and efforts on my part to purchase
1T from it's last possessors in Syria.
succeeded in it's acquisition by purchas
ing it at a special meeting of its heirs
and it is now donlciled in my collee
tion in the University Of Pennsylvania
I hope never again, to be moved.
This antique cameo. The Triumph
pf4Gonstantine. is of great Importance
In itself. and by far the most importan,
| bf aan similar works Of the lower EN-
/ pire hitherto discovered. 1t is mac
gggulated sard Of dark tortoise shell color
The maculation is of light marsals, wine
] s5aolor and white. It is q stone cameo