On September 23, 2015, Viktor Ulyanitskiy demanded Department of Culture the inclusion of the jewels of the call Ulkes Antique Jewelry Collectionthat it presents itself as a rightful owner in the “appropriate” cultural property inventory. After the transaction was initiated, another person emerged who declared himself the sole heir of this fund according to the will, which is said to be the legal owner.
From there, this story could well be the subject of an intrigue novel or series.treasury, investigations and courts in the middle. But the truth is that it’s a fact and that treasure is a A series of gems from the north of the Black Seafrom the Crimean peninsula and dated between the centuries V to III before Christ, It is so valuable and exceptional that there is no other news about a similar collection. Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg, What makes it unique in style and known origin in Western Europe, according to experts.
Benidorm was the beginning of the story and the end for now, MARQ, because the Country Collection, apparently from the Netherlands, is in the Archaeological Museum of Alicante 16 May 2019, This center is the sanctuary of this precious set of 26 gold jewels, 19 of which are completely original and 7 of which are lightly embroidered.
In the meantime, given the doubts about the property, the case was settled. Benidorm Civil Court of First Instance and Order No. 2. Also, because of the possibility of returning these cultural assets as required by law if they leave an EU Member State illegally.
Appraisal of Ülkes Collection Alicia Perea Caveda ancient and maximum authority in our country CSIC membertogether Luis Pablo Martinez SanmartinPortable Heritage Inspector of Alicante Regional Cultural Service and also MARQ, Valencia Conservation Institute (IVCR+i) and the district police.
The report has been discontinued. given exceptional collectible value and the public interest of the restoration as a whole”, as stated by the Ministry of Culture, and “the essential forms of constitutive nature for international traffic are not accredited”, the Police deposited this kit in MARQ.
This center began extensive work on the parts in June 2019, apart from those whose features were transferred to IVCR+i in Castellón and finished the work there. February 2020.
The way to protect the pieces and at the same time prevent them from leaving Spain, Declare this set as a collection of Culturally Interesting Real Estate. Processing of the file by Culture began in April 2020 after positive reports were requested from Consell Valencià de Cultura and the University of Alicante. A little over a year later, on July 7, 2021, Consell approved this measure, “without any reference to the international traffic to which these parts may be subject,” according to the issued decree. DOGV on 14 July.
Part Description
Ülkes Collection consists of antique jewellery. 35 jewels made wholly or partly of gold-based alloys. Studies carried out by CSIC and MARQ experts, 19 of them are original parts. Entirely; seven originals showing slight manipulations; six highly manipulated parts Y three were wrongAccording to the report, they are “of great interest for the manufacture of counterfeit archaeological jewellery” because they indicate the existence of “sophisticated forgeries”.
Completely original and slightly modified pieces form a whole. 26 subsets of jewelsIt is of extraordinary value as evidence of the work of the dominant goldsmiths. the most advanced jewelery techniques of the time“, according to the decree. Its typological, iconographic and technical features allow it to be attributed to different chrono-cultural areas.
Most gems needles? It responds to Greek canons, but offers some compositional and iconographic details of Scythian inspiration, so these are Greek-Scythian cultural horizon of the northern shore of the Black Sea Between the 4th and 3rd centuries BC. c.
According to the study, needles are “a set of jewels. extraordinary and rarebecause of the number, homogeneity and rarity of such archaeological jewellery”. The most complete needle collection ever known above the “extraordinary example” that existed at that time Museum of Historical Treasures of Ukraine in Kievas well as loose parts of similar configuration Louvre Museum of Paris and Metropolitan of New York.
Another highlight is convergent chain and pendant necklace A type of Greek jewelry in the shape of an acorn, which has been common in the eastern Mediterranean, the Near East and the Black Sea coast since the 4th century BC. Likewise, there is a pair of earrings topped with an Egyptian crown, corresponding to models from Ptolemaic Egypt and from the Black Sea coast between the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC. c.
Exhibition at MARQ
The judicialization of the case has caused the Ministry of Culture to treat the matter with a certain degree of secrecy – so all data such as the origin of the series and how it got to Alicante have not been disclosed – and no propagation of images of parts.
However, in the decree itself, where it was declared as a collection of Cultural Interest Personal Property, it is stated that it was deposited with MARQ. may be temporarily displayed to the publiconly in the headquarters of the museum, the items that make up the same things”. For the moment, nothing like that has happened.
The decree stipulates that the Ülkes Collection be kept in temporary storage at MARQ. Until ownership is proven or “the two conditions combined cumulatively”: the countries of origin from which the illegally exported parts have not taken the extradition action “within the three-year period or expressly waived” and “correlated enrichment on behalf of the Generalitat and the holder”.