In 1989, collector Arthur Gilbert (1913 – 2001) acquired an object which would be unique in his collection – a 4,250-year-old Anatolian gold ewer.

In 2018, the Gilbert Collection embarked on a major provenance research project which revealed that, unbeknownst to Arthur Gilbert, this gold ewer carried a problematic provenance. The dealer who sold him the ewer was secretly involved in the trade of illicit antiquities and the ewer had been illegally excavated and exported, deceiving Arthur Gilbert about its true provenance.

In light of this revelation, the Gilbert Trust, together with the Turkish Ministry of Culture, decided that the most appropriate place for the ewer would be the Museum of Anatolian Civilisations in Ankara. In October 2021, the ewer was donated to this museum, where it went on display next to objects of the same period which provide crucial cultural and historical context.

Naturally leaving a gap in the V&A's Collection, contemporary metalsmith Adi Toch was comissioned to create an art piece responding to the ewer and its remarkable story, so that its presence is still felt. For her piece, Toch has not only used the same gold alloy of the ewer, but has also employed many of the same techniques used by the Hattian goldsmith, thousands of years ago. Her final piece, titled ‘Place to Place’ thoughtfully prompts us to consider the movements of objects through time, and how they continue to fascinate, inspire and connect us. Watch as Toch examines the materiality of the ewer, including its impeccable craftsmanship, and considers the complex history that it embodies as she creates her piece.

Find out more about the gold ewer: [ Ссылка ]

Discover more about the Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Collection: [ Ссылка ]

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