Eugène Boban
Encyclopedia
Eugène Boban or Boban-Duvergé (1834–1908) was a French antiquarian
. He was the official archaeologist of the court of Maximillian I of Mexico, and a member of the French Scientific Commission in Mexico. At one time, he held then sold a number of crystal skull
s, one which is now in the Musée du Quai Branly
and another in the British Museum
.
. He headed an expedition commissioned by Napoleon III to collect Mexican art and artifacts, later exhibited at the Trocadéro
Museum in connection with the Exposition Universelle (1867)
. In 1885 he had published a poster, Cuadro arqueológico y etnográfico de la republica mexicana. In July 1886, he moved his business to New York City
. Two sale catalogues of his collection, catalogued by Ed. Frossard, were published in New York in 1887.
In 1891, he organized and published the Aubin-Goupil Collection of manuscripts, bought in 1889 by Eugène Goupil
and now in the Bibliothèque Nationale.
Ethnological objects from his collection were sold in Paris, 1908.
Antiquarian
An antiquarian or antiquary is an aficionado or student of antiquities or things of the past. More specifically, the term is used for those who study history with particular attention to ancient objects of art or science, archaeological and historic sites, or historic archives and manuscripts...
. He was the official archaeologist of the court of Maximillian I of Mexico, and a member of the French Scientific Commission in Mexico. At one time, he held then sold a number of crystal skull
Crystal skull
The crystal skulls are a number of human skull hardstone carvings made of clear or milky quartz rock, known in art history as "rock crystal", claimed to be pre-Columbian Mesoamerican artifacts by their alleged finders. However, none of the specimens made available for scientific study have been...
s, one which is now in the Musée du Quai Branly
Musée du quai Branly
thumb|225px|Musée du quai BranlyThe Musée du quai Branly , known in English as the Quai Branly Museum, nicknamed MQB, is a museum in Paris, France that features indigenous art, cultures and civilizations from Africa, Asia, Oceania, and the Americas. The museum is located at 37, quai Branly -...
and another in the British Museum
British Museum
The British Museum is a museum of human history and culture in London. Its collections, which number more than seven million objects, are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its...
.
Career
Eugène Boban came to Mexico as a teenager, and became fluent in both Spanish and NahuatlNahuatl
Nahuatl is thought to mean "a good, clear sound" This language name has several spellings, among them náhuatl , Naoatl, Nauatl, Nahuatl, Nawatl. In a back formation from the name of the language, the ethnic group of Nahuatl speakers are called Nahua...
. He headed an expedition commissioned by Napoleon III to collect Mexican art and artifacts, later exhibited at the Trocadéro
Trocadéro
The Trocadéro, , site of the Palais de Chaillot, , is an area of Paris, France, in the 16th arrondissement, across the Seine from the Eiffel Tower. The hill of the Trocadéro is the hill of Chaillot, a former village.- Origin of the name :...
Museum in connection with the Exposition Universelle (1867)
Exposition Universelle (1867)
The Exposition Universelle of 1867 was a World Exposition held in Paris, France, in 1867.-Conception:In 1864, Emperor Napoleon III decreed that an international exposition should be held in Paris in 1867. A commission was appointed with Prince Jerome Napoleon as president, under whose direction...
. In 1885 he had published a poster, Cuadro arqueológico y etnográfico de la republica mexicana. In July 1886, he moved his business to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Two sale catalogues of his collection, catalogued by Ed. Frossard, were published in New York in 1887.
In 1891, he organized and published the Aubin-Goupil Collection of manuscripts, bought in 1889 by Eugène Goupil
Eugène Goupil
Charles Eugène Espidon Goupil was a French Mexican philanthropist and collector.In 1889 he bought Joseph Marius Alexis Aubin's collection of 384 Mesoamerican manuscripts. On May 14, 1864, he married Augustine Élie...
and now in the Bibliothèque Nationale.
Ethnological objects from his collection were sold in Paris, 1908.
Questions of authenticity
A crystal skull originally sold by Boban, now in the British Museum, has been demonstrated to be a modern fake.Published works
Boban's published works include:- Eugéne Boban Antiquités mexicaines Paris, E. Leroux, 1875
- Bibliographie palèoethnologique 1881
- Cuadro arqueológico y etnográfico de la republica mexicana Mexico, Imp. de Muriga, 1885
- E. Boban Documents pour servir à histoire du Mexique Paris, E. Leroux, 1891
- Histoire de la nation Mexicaine 1893