Below are four prefaces, three written by Lawrence and one written presumably by a member of Sotheby's staff, about the Lawrence-Cesnola collection, for the auctions in 1883, 1884, 1888 and 1892.
Preface to the 1-4 June 1883 Sotheby, Wilkinson and Hodge sale catalogue for the sale of the FIRST PORTION (numbering over 3000 objects) of the Lawrence-Cesnola Collection, the property of Edwin Henry Lawrence.
Students of Archaeology and Ancient History are undoubtedly indebted to General LUIGI PALMA DI CESNOLA, now of New York, and to his younger brother Major ALEXANDER PALMA DI CESNOLA, F.S.A., for nearly all the new light which has been shed in recent years upon the races which flourished and the Fine Arts which were practised in that meeting place of many ancient nations, the well known Island of Cyprus.
General di Cesnola having been appointed Consul of the United States of America at Cyprus, arrived there in 1865, and during his lengthy sojourn engaged in excavations at Dali, Golgoi, Throni, Salamis, Paphos, Curium and other sites, which yielded him a valuable Collection of Antiquities. It would perhaps be more correct to call it two Collections. The first Collection the General brought to this country and offered it to the British Museum, but it went to New York. The General returned to Cyprus and resumed his explorations, which resulted in a second very important and valuable Collection, which was likewise offered to the British Museum, but that Collection also went to New York and is now placed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in the Central Park. Previous to this, however, I had acquired by purchase from the General a considerable number of choice and valuable Relics in gold, glass, terra-cottas, &c., now in my possession, and some of which are engraved in the General's book "Cyprus, its Ancient Cities, Tombs and Temples," published by Mr. John Murray in 1877.
During 1873 and 1874 the General was assisted in his explorations by his younger brother Major Alexander Palma di Cesnola, F.S.A., who held the appointment of American Vice-Consul at Paphos. He visited England, and in 1876 returned to Cyprus expecting to succeed his brother as American Consul, but at about that time that with many other Consulships was abolished by the American Government.
The work of searching for Antiquities so successfully carried on by General di Cesnola was however on my advice continued by his brother, and to enable him to carry on these additional researches arrangements were entered into between Major Alexander di Cesnola and myself by virtue of which the Antiquities acquired by him by excavation, or by purchase from other explorers, during a definite period in the Island, passed into my possession.
These explorations and purchases from 1876 to 1879 resulted in the recovery from the dust of ages of a very large number of miscellaneous Objects in gold, glass, Greek statuettes, &c., the larger and more important portion of which were found at Salaminia, the site of the ancient Salamis.
General di Cesnola in his book "Cyprus, its ancient Cities, Tombs and Temples," speaking of his explorations at Salamis says, "I spent large sums of money at this place on three different occasions, but with no result in any way satisfactory. The ground abounds with snakes, some of which are venomous."
The honour therefore of being the first discoverer at Salaminia belongs to his brother Major Alexander Palma di Cesnola, F.S.A.
Major di Cesnola has published a work in the form of an oblong Album, containing Sixty Plates of Photographs taken from objects in this Collection, also a book "Salaminia" with upwards of 700 illustrations, also taken from this Collection.
These works are published by Messrs Trübner and Co. The former contains a long and able description of the Antiquities extracted from the Athenaeum, 26th June, 1880, also papers from Professor Renan and Professor Sayce. The latter work has an able introduction by Dr. Samuel Birch, of the British Museum.
Reviews of these works have appeared in the Times, Athenaeum, Builder, Academy and other publications, and so much information has been imparted to the public in these notices that I do not consider it necessary to give on this occasion descriptive particulars of the objects contained in this Collection of Antiquities. I have all along felt that it is too large for any private Collection,, and that much of it is suited for Museums.
It cannot be seen to advantage in a private house, nor by the many. Many persons, too, from a feeling of intrusion, are reluctant to visit Collections in private houses. I have, therefore, resolved to submit the Collection to Public Sale.
This course will enable Museums, private Collectors, Artists and Others to supply themselves with such examples as may suit them, or such as they may desire to possess. It will also I hope direct public attention to this thought, that although much has been done in exploration in Cyprus, much remains to be done.
The Athenaeum in an able review of Major di Cesnola's book "Salaminia," which appeared in its impression of the 24th of March, 1883, says, "There is yet a great deal to be done in Cyprus, and it would be well if the local knowledge acquired by the brothers Cesnola, and by Mr Lang, could be utilized."
I quite concur in this opinion, and if instead of the desultory Excavations hitherto carried on at much personal risk, inconvenience and obstruction to the explorers, the course were adopted of a systematic search, commenced, carried out, by and for the benefit of the nation , that course would be commendable.
It is probable however that the services of only one of the three gentlemen mentioned by the Athenaeum could now be obtained to take charge of this important work, viz. those of Major Alexander di Cesnola; it would, as the Athenaeum has remarked, "be well" to do so. We might, then, be hopeful of a good result.
Edwin Henry Lawrence, F.S.A.
See here for the items bought by Pitt-Rivers on 1 June 1883
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Preface to the 15-17 May 1884 Sotheby, Wilkinson and Hodge sale catalogue for the sale of the SECOND PORTION (of the Lawrence-Cesnola Collection, the property of Edwin Henry Lawrence.
In offering to the Public this SECOND PORTION of my COLLECTION OF CYPRUS ANTIQUITIES, it may perhaps be interesting to those who are unacquainted with its history if I recapitulate some of the remarks in my preface to the FIRST PORTION, which Messrs Sotheby, Wilkinson and Hodge sold for me in June last. I stated that students of Archaeology and Ancient History are undoubtedly indebted to General LUIGI PALMA DI CESNOLA, now of New York, and to his younger brother Major ALEXANDER PALMA DI CESNOLA F.S.A. for nearly all the new light which has been shed in recent years upon the races which flourished and the Fine Arts which were practised in that meeting place of many ancient nations, the Island of Cyprus.
General di Cesnola having been appointed Consul of the United States at Cyprus, arrived there in 1865, and during his lengthy sojourn engaged in excavations at Dali, Golgoi, Throni, Salamis, Paphos, Curium and other sites, which yielded him a valuable Collection of Antiquities.
I purchased from the General a considerable number of choice and valuable Antiquities in Gold, Glass, Terra Cotta &c., but the greater part of his Collection went, I regret to say, to New York, and it now adorns the Metropolitan Museum of Art in the Central Park. General di Cesnola relinquished his Consulship, I think, in 1875, and it was, I believe, with others abolished shortly afterwards.
Major A.P. di Cesnola, who had for a time assisted his brother in his excavations, returned to Cyprus in 1876, and the work of searching for Antiquities was, at my suggestion, continued by him; and to enable him to carry on these additional researches, arrangements were entered into between Major A.P. di Cesnola and myself, by virtue of which the Antiquities acquired by him by excavation or by purchase from other explorers during a definite period passed into my possession. The explorations ad purchases from 1876 to 1879 resulted in the recovery from the dust of ages of a large number of Objects in Gold, Glass, Terra Cotta, Greek statuettes &c., the larger portion of which were found at Salaminia, the district of ancient Salamis.
General di Cesnola in his book "Cyprus, its ancient Cities, Tombs and Temples," speaking of his explorations at Salamis says, "I spent large sums of money at this place on three different occasions, but with no result in any way satisfactory. The ground abounds with snakes, some of which are venomous." The honour therefore of being the first discoverer at Salaminia belongs to his brother Major Alexander Palma di Cesnola, F.S.A.
In the Major's book "Salaminia," published by Messrs Trübner and Co. there are upwards of 700 illustrations taken from this Collection. The book has an able introduction by Dr. Samuel Birch, of the British Museum and reviews of it in the Times, Athenaeum, Builder, Academy have imparted to the public much information respecting the Collection.
All who have seen it have readily admitted, and I have daily felt that the quality is too large for any Private Collection, and that to retain it all would not be making a proper Antiquarian or Artistic use of it. I resolved therefore to submit it to Public Sale. This course will enable Museums, private Collectors, Artists and Others of supplying themselves with such examples as they may need or desire to possess. It will also I hope direct public attention to the desirability of further explorations in Cyprus.
The Athenaeum in an able review of Major di Cesnola's book "Salaminia," which appeared in its impression of the 24th of March, 1883, says, "There is yet a great deal to be done in Cyprus, and it would be well if the local knowledge acquired by the brothers Cesnola, and by Mr Lang, could be utilized."
I quite concur in this opinion, and if instead of the desultory excavations hitherto carried on at much inconvenience and personal risk to explorers, and to verdant antiquaries unwelcome trouble and money shrinkage, a systematized Government search were undertaken, such an undertaking would in my opinion be commendable and I hope successful. I understand some searches of a semi-official nature have been made since the closing of those in which I was concerned, but I have no knowledge of any discovery having been made that was worthy of note.
Should it be that the brothers Cesnola and Mr Lang have exhausted Cyprus of its Antiquities, then it is certain that no opportunity of acquiring Cyprus Antiquities such as that offered by me is ever likely to occur again.
Edwin Henry Lawrence, F.S.A.
London.
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Preface to the 12-14 March 1888 Sotheby, Wilkinson and Hodge sale catalogue for the sale of the THIRD PORTION of the Lawrence-Cesnola Collection, the property of Edwin Henry Lawrence.
I now offer to the Public the Third Portion of my Collection of Cyprus Antiquities, thus continuing my previously expressed intention, as contained in the Preface to the First Part, in which I stated that all who had seen the Collection admitted, what I daily felt, that the quantity was too large for any Private Collection, and that to retain it, would not be making proper Antiquarian or Artistic use of it; I purposed, therefore, to submit it to Public Sale, a course which would afford Museums, Antiquaries, Artists, Collectors and others, the opportunity of supplying themselves with such examples as they may need or desire to possess. They have now another opportunity.
In Major di Cesnola's book, "Salaminia," published by Trübner and Co., there are upwards of 700 illustrations taken from this Collection. The book has an able introduction by my lamented friend the late Dr Samuel Birch of the British Museum; and reviews of it in The Times, Athenaeum, Builder, Academy and other publications, have imparted to the Public much information respecting the Collection.
An Italian translation of the Major's book has recently been published by "Ermanno Laescher, of Turin, Florence and Rome"
In 1877 the Society of Antiquaries printed and published in The Archaeologia Vol. XLV, a most able and interesting Paper communicated to them by Thomas Sandwich, Esq. H.B.M. Vice-Consul, on the different Styles of Pottery found in the Island of Cyprus, it contains five plates representing in colours twenty-five different objects.
In the portion I now submit to the Public there are, I believe, with one small exception, examples of each one of these objects, and in the Collection other Styles not illustrated or set forth in Mr. Sandwich's Paper.
The Fictile Art of Cyprus is doubtless of high antiquity, no date can be fixed to it, but some of the discoveries may be as early as B.C. 1500.
It is probable that many objects of interest and value still lie buried beneath the accumulated earth of ages ready to reward the intelligent and industrious explorer.
It is now close upon ten years since my connection with the Explorations in Cyprus came to an end, and from that time I have made no addition whatever to the Collection.
Edwin Henry Lawrence, F.S.A.
London, February, 1888.
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Preface to the 25-27 April 1892 Sotheby, Wilkinson and Hodge sale catalogue for the sale of [another part of the] Lawrence-Cesnola Collection, the property of Edwin Henry Lawrence.
Students of Archaeology and Ancient History are much indebted to General Luigi Palma di Cesnola, now of New York, for the light which has been shed in recent years upon the races which flourished and the Fine Arts which were practised in that meeting place of many ancient nations, the well known Island of Cyprus.
General di Cesnola having been appointed Consul of the United States of America at Cyprus, arrived there in 1865, and during a long sojourn engaged in excavations at many sites, which yielded him a valuable Collection of Antiquities. It would perhaps be correct to call it two Collections. The first Collection the General brought to this country and offered to the British Museum, but it went to New York. He returned to Cyprus and resumed his explorations, which resulted in a second very important and valuable Collection, which was likewise offered to the British Museum, but also went to New York and is now placed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in the Central Park. Previous to this, the late Edwin Henry Lawrence Esq., F.S.A. had acquired by purchase from the General, a considerable number of choice and valuable Relics in gold, glass, terra-cotta, &c., and other portions of his large collection have been acquired from different sources.
A considerable part of this collection has already been submitted to the public on three several occasions. In his preface to the catalogue of the first portion, which was sold in 1883, Mr Lawrence says of his collection of Cypriote Antiquities:-
I have all along felt that it is too large for any private Collection,, and that much of it is suited for Museums. It cannot be seen to advantage in a private house, nor by the many. Many persons, too, from a feeling of intrusion, are reluctant to visit collections in private houses. I have, therefore, resolved to submit the collection to public sale. This course will enable Museums, private Collectors, Artists and Others to supply themselves with such examples as may suit them, or such as they may desire to possess. It will also I hope direct public attention to this thought, that although much has been done in exploration in Cyprus, much remains to be done.
Mr Lawrence's opinion as expressed above never varied, and he was anxious that the historian, the artist and the antiquary, should have the chance of participating in the benefits to be obtained from the collection that he had formed. He died in June 1891, and by his will directed that the collection should be sold by auction.
With the exception of a few specimens, which have been retained as a memorial of the collection, the whole of the remaining antiquities, both those he acquired from General di Cesnola as well as those which he obtained from other sources as before mentioned, are included in this catalogue. Among them will be found a number of exceedingly beautiful examples of iridescent glass vessels of various dates and forms, some remarkable god objects of considerable intrinsic value, a few Cypriote inscriptions now of the greatest rarity, some sculptured stone, much typical archaic pottery of the highest antiquity and of attractive character, and a series of statuettes and other representations or emblems of Deities, including several illustrative of the debased cult of the phallus so prevalent in Cyprus, and figures of personages, which are commended to careful examination.
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Find out more about the Pitt-Rivers' collection of Cesnola objects here.
Transcribed by AP, April 2012. We are most grateful to Thomas Kiely, Cyprus Curator, Department of Greece and Rome, British Museum for helping with this collection.
