Damaged Goods

Patriotic Britishers were fearful, last week, lest the famed Portland vase be sold across the sea to some wealthy U. S. art collector. A ten-inch cinerary urn found during the 16th century in an old Roman tomb, long owned by Dukes of Portland, the vase had been announced for auction by the present Sixth Duke, "owing to the exigencies of the present times." For 119 years the Portlands had loaned it to the British Museum. But last week, as it stood on display in Christie's London auction rooms, many a Britisher went for a last look. Everyone supposed, of course, that "some rich American" would carry off the treasure. Even Edward of Wales strolled in, peered at the exquisite white and blue glass scene of the marriage of King Peleus and Thetis, Queen of the Nereids. It was made known that he agreed with connoisseurs and critics that $500,000 would by no means be an unfair price. The auction took 35 seconds. Starting at $50,000, the bid rose in $5,000 leaps to $147,000. Then there was silence. The auctioneer looked inquiringly about. Quietly he added $5,000, ordered the vase to be removed. "Who's the buyer?" cried a woman. "The British public has a right to know that. The vase has been in our museum a century!" The buyer was the Duke of Portland. He had set his minimum at $250,000. He allowed newspapers to state that it would be returned to the British Museum. Britishers were happy, yet marvelled at the absence of U. S. moneybags. Some surmised that U. S. financiers are not interested in damaged goods. In 1845 the Portland vase was shattered by one William Lloyd, a lunatic museum visitor, who was fined $15 for his impetuosity. It was skillfully repaired, but all connoisseurs know the story.