Peter Jones posted this on the Classicists list (for Graham Zanker):
The recent earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand struck at 0435 on
Saturday, 4th September. The James Logie Memorial Collection of Classical
Antiquities, housed in the Department of Classics of the University of
Canterbury and famous for its black and red-figure vases, was hard hit
indeed.A visit to the Collection at 1100, when engineers permitted entry, revealed
that only about 30% of the ceramic pieces had survived the quake unharmed or
lightly chipped, and that 20% of the holdings are more or less easily
reparable. The remaining 50% are severely damaged, but can be repaired.Every major or heavy item was immediately removed, packed and stabilised,
and put on the floor under large wooden tables because we expected an
aftershock (in fact, there have been at least fifteen over 5 on the Richter
scale since): getting them out of the building was impossible because all
lifts were out of action.In the intervening period, all items and fragments have been packaged and
stored as securely as possible, and the insurers have formed their
assessment. It is clear that further funding will required for the work of
conservation and for the restoration of the Collection to its former stature
as one of the most distinguished collections in the Southern Hemisphere. (A
detailed description of the Collection’s holdings can be found in Professor
J.R. Green’s *Catalogue of the James Logie Memorial Collection of Classical
Antiquities*, published by the Canterbury University Press last December.)Generous donations have already been received, and a fund for the
conservation of the Collection has been put in place for any further gifts.
Donations and inquiries should be addressed to Shelagh Murray of the
University of Canterbury Foundation: shelagh.murray AT canterbury.ac.nz.
rogueclassicism 