The Senator William A Clark Collection of Ancient Art

Hardcover Details:

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09XZJ7HNT
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 122 pages
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8801402833 
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 13.1 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.25 x 0.48 x 11 inches 

Softcover Details:

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09XZ85CTC
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 122 pages
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8802863442
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 13.4 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.5 x 0.29 x 11 inches

Senator William Andrews Clark (1839 - 1925) made a fortune in mining, railroads, banking, newspapers, and other businesses. One of the most powerful, influential, and shrewd of the 19th century American robber barons, he is among the 50 wealthiest Americans of all time.

Today, however, he is virtually unknown.

In 1925, Clark bequeathed a significant portion of his extensive and varied collection to the Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington DC.  The collection included more than eight hundred objects, including European and American paintings; Near Eastern carpets; European drawings, sculpture, tapestries, antique lace, ceramics, furniture, decorative arts, and over two hundred Greek and Roman antiquities.  

With the closure of the Corcoran in 2014, much of Clark’s collection was gifted to the American University Museum at the Katzen Arts Center, Washington DC.  

Sands of Time Ancient Art is proud to work with the American University Museum in handling the sale of the Clark collection of ancient Greek and Roman art.  This collection draws from the art of many ancient Greek cultures, including mainland Greece, Cyprus, and Greek colonies established around the Mediterranean basin, especially Southern Italy and Anatolia. 

The collection is being sold for the benefit of the American University Museum as they still maintain extensive holdings from the original Clark donation.  While deaccession funding would usually be used to acquire works consistent with museum policy, the Corcoran museum trustees and the American University Museum directors agree that the deaccession and sale of these antiquities will keep Senator Clark’s generous legacy alive. 

In 2021, Sands of Time Ancient Art exclusively offered Senator Clark’s collection to members of the Association of Art Museum Directors, allowing these works, with their distinguished pedigree, to firstly find a place with peer institutions and thus move between museums more efficiently.   This catalogue documents Senator Clarks antiquities collection prior to AUM deaccession and subsequent public sale in 2022.