When Collecting Art for the Home Becomes a Selfish, Illegal Pursuit

The articles in the Special Home Design Issue (“Living With Art,” Sept. 28) displayed an appalling lack of ethical awareness about the implications of collecting ancient artifacts. The demand for artifacts is met by looters who are paid to ransack archeological sites illegally. Wealthy collectors fancy themselves as quasi-professional curators, but they are only a few steps removed from the looter’s shovel.

Wesley Bernardini

Assistant professor

Department of Sociology and Anthropology

University of Redlands

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Thank you for Barbara Thornburg’s great articles on living with art. The entire edition was handsomely illustrated, and it contained a wealth of information for both the new and established collector.

David Zapf

David Zapf Gallery

San Diego