Simply Abu Dhabi Magazine XIX

The Archaeometrists Archaeometry: ...the use of scienti c techniques to determine the ages of archaeological specimens as well as their places and circumstances of origin. — (Merriam-Webster dictionary) In the halcyon days of yesteryear, a collector visiting some exotic location might spot an enticing relic, bargain with the purveyor for a mutually agreed upon value, then depart happily with a prize that was most likely authentic, appropriately priced and evermore appreciated. at scenario is rare today. In today's climate, cunning cra smen, inveterate forgers and polished charlatans ply the roiled waters of the antiquities market as cunningly as circling sharks besieging bloody prey. Equal in potential detriment, however, to the obvious tricksters are some known “experts” who precede every o er with an almost complete disclaimer (absolving them of responsibility) in their publications and generally o er no or incomplete scienti c evidence in support of their claims. ese attributions will almost always be in question in the years to come. en there are those who excessively extrapolate their interpretations of known archaeologically documented artifacts or material as supporting evidence of authenticity or the lack thereof. is subtle misinformation is among the most di cult to detect. Additionally, many purveyors may simply withhold the knowledge of readily available scienti c evidence that would considerably in uence a purchase. Will that hapless collector soon be defrauded, ending up with a forgery or pastiche object? e answer is no, not if the archaeometrists at TK Asian Antiquities are involved. Michael C. Teller IV, president of TK Asian Antiquities, has been a professional collector and dealer in Asian antiquities for nearly 40 years. He has nourished his passion for Chinese art since the late 1970s. at passion led him to become a highly renowned resource in conservation, restoration, and documentation. To support his drive to authenticate, document, educate and share his ndings among experts, research organizations, colleagues, collectors and the public, Teller established one of the few state-of-the-art science facilities (in the commercial environment) devoted to pure research on antiquities. at unique investigative site is co-located with his gallery in Williamsburg, Virginia. He also formed collaborative relationships with some of the best o -site laboratories around the world for specialized analyses as well as for signi cant contributions to the body of knowledge in archaeometry. 2 9 4 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I