Buying Antiquities in Israel

One of the first questions people ask is, “is it really legal to buy antiquities in Israel?” The answer is “Yes,” but only if it is through an authorized dealer. It is illegal to take antiquities from a current archaeological excavation out of the country, and many people have been fined or even arrested for this.

It is also illegal to export antiquities that were discovered after 1978, and in order to be sure that current archaeological artifacts do not leave the country; each item must have a certificate from a licensed antiquities dealer.

Here at Zak Mishriky Antiquities and Fine Art, we are licensed by the Israel Antiquities authority to buy and sell antiquities. Our items are documented as being discovered before 1978 and are purchased legally by museum auctions and collectors. Each of our items has been cataloged through the IAA database, and when you purchase an antiquity from our store, it comes with a certificate of authenticity and export approval documents.

VISIT ZAK’S ANTIQUITIES HERE

These export approval documents come straight from the Israel Antiquities authority, and verify that it is legal to ship outside the country. At Zak Mishriky Antiquities and Fine Art, we guarantee that our items are authentic and legal to sell. It is our responsibility to make sure each item makes it to your home, and we will provide all of the legal documentation to make this possible.  

Investing in Antiquities

In addition to the historical significance, buying legal antiquities is also a great investment. The price of antiquities increases over time because of the limited supply. Although condition plays an enormous role in the value of a piece, there are set prices for most antiquities, and they continue to rise over time. For example, a bronze 25mm diameter Simon Bar Kochba (132-135 A.D.) coin in very fine condition was valued at $250-$270 in 2000 at an Israel Antiquities Authority licensed auction, and in 2014, the same coin was valued at $550-$580. Another example is a Roman glass cosmetics bottle as shown below. There is a very limited supply of legal antiquities, so their value continues to rise. This makes buying antiquities a great investment.   Bar Kochba               Roman Glass

2000	$250-$270	$400-$450
2010	$380-$400	$450-$500
2014	$550-$580	$700-$800

 

How do I know an antiquity is real?

Buying antiquities is a great investment, but unfortunately because of this, there is always a risk of purchasing fakes. The easiest way to know an antiquity is real is to purchase it from an experienced, authorized dealer. There is no one rule for determining the authenticity of a piece, and verifying that a piece is genuine takes years of experience. Although you can read about how to find fakes, and look at different criteria, it is only through handling antiquities for many years that one can truly determine if a piece is authentic or not.

At Zak Mishriky Antiquities and Fine Art, we guarantee that all of our antiquities are authentic. If at any point you are unhappy with your purchase, please contact us and we refund your purchase 100% on all antiquities.