— Classical Gift To The Potter —

An extensive antiquities collection has been donated to the University’s Ian Potter Museum of Art by Mr David Adams (BE(Mech) 1954) in memory of his late wife Marion, a former Dean  of Arts and long-time lecturer in German Literature at Melbourne.

The antiquities from their personal collection will benefit students and visitors to the Museum for generations to come. Included in the remarkable collection is a 14th century pottery water strainer from Iran, several coins from the Roman Empire and a 2nd century marble torso of the Roman god Sylvanus.

Professor Marion Adams (BA(Hons) 1955 PhD 1967) played an important and far-reaching role within the university community. This role continues today, through the Marion Adams Fund, the Marion Adams Memorial Lecture and through the generous support given to the University of Melbourne by David Adams. The gift to the Museum will be an invaluable resource for the University’s Centre for Classics and Archaeology. Andrew Jamieson (BA(Hons) 1989 MA 1994 PhD 2006), Spencer-Pappas Trust Curator and Lecturer says the Adams’  gift is a wonderful gesture to the Potter Museum and to the general public.

The Adams Collection will add a new dimension to the Ian Potter Museum and extend the depth and breadth of the Classics collection. Selected artefacts from the David and Marion  Adams Collection are on display at The Potter until October 11, 2009.

Image: A silver tetradrachm with head of
Athena and owl on reverse Attica (found in
Akra, Lebanon), 440–413 BCE from the David
and Marion Adams Collection.