“To tear something away from its original context, like these figurines, actually deprives humanity of a complete work of art,” Victoria Hislop told The Oldie Literary Lunch today

“To tear something away from its original context, like these figurines, actually deprives humanity of a complete work of art,” Victoria Hislop told The Oldie Literary Lunch today as she spoke about her latest novel, The Figurine.

Hundreds of statues were looted from Greek islands, sometimes fetching over 16 million dollars in the New York antiquities market or ending up in the private collections of individuals.

Victoria looked at the figurine she brought with her, saying, “Yes, she is a part of art, but she is a continuation of human culture and what they meant to people back then.’