Correspondence between Kyriaco Stylianou, Schaeffer, Megaw and Lapierre on Stylianou's gift of bronze objects found at Enkomi before the excavationsClaude Frédéric-Armand Schaeffer and J Lapierre

[printed: FRENCH CONSULAR AGENCY AT LARNACA (ISLAND OF CYPRUS)]

Printed: French Republic

LARNACA 14 November 1949

No. 468

Dear Sir Claude Shaeffer Director of the French Archaeological Mission Nicosia

Sir,

By letter of the 9th inst. you were good enough to remind me of your request concerning the collection of antiquities of Mr Kyriakos Stylianou of Larnaca.

In reply I have the honour to inform you that I did not fail to see Mr Stylianou. This merchant assured me, and I believe him sincere, that he bought his collection for £ 35. Pointing out to Mr Stylianou that collections of ancient objects could not be valued like ordinary articles, I asked him whether he would not be willing to offer his collection to the Louvre Museum. Mr Stylianou did not appear surprised by my proposal. He assured me that he would offer it very willingly if he had the assurance that his name would appear, as donor, on the case where these objects would be displayed.

I do not know what you will think of my suggestion. Knowing Mr Stylianou well, I think it is better to ask him this sacrifice than to offer him a sum far below his purchase price.

Please accept, Sir, the assurance of my very high consideration.

Handwritten: Madame Lapierre thanks you for your message and joins me in asking you to be our interpreter with Madame Schaeffer and to ask her to accept our respectful remembrances.

Handwritten: Lapierre.