Echoes in Time represents a new concept in the fields of art, history and science. While we provide original artifacts and high quality recreations of antiquities from around the world, we are equally interested in uncovering the stories associated with the objects. An object's real interest may lie in how it was made, the function it served and what it represented to its original owner and culture. The interest may also lie in the mystery and speculation that surrounds the object. To this end, Echoes In Time carefully researches each original piece and provides a story card which identifies the culture, location, time period and summarizes what is known, and unknown, about the object.

PRODUCTS
Most of our products are both unique and exclusive to Echoes In TIme. We classify our products as follows:

A) Original Artifacts
These are original, one-of-a-kind antiquities, which are independently professionally authenticated as appropriate.

B) Exact Recreations
(1) These products are primarily developed by locating and acquiring the original artifact. Using an exclusive proprietary process, exact molds are made from the original artifact in a manner that does not endanger it. Reproductions are then made directly from these molds. Each reproduction is then individually hand painted meticulously to match the original piece.

This work is performed by skilled technicians and artists in the United States.

(2) If the original piece is not directly available, we will attempt to acquire a mold of the original from the owner.

(3) In cases where this is not possible, such as cultural treasures, our artists will utilize photographs and measurements of the piece to meticulously create an exact model of the original. Recreations are then made from the model.

C) Scaled Recreations
In some cases practicality dictates that a recreation needs to be scaled (usually down) from it's original size. In such cases, the procedure outlined above in section B(3) is followed.

D) Tribal Art
We define tribal art to mean articles produced directly by original native cultures within the last 50-80 years. When possible, Echoes In Time will attempt to acquire such material directly from native artisans or tribes so that part of the proceeds of the sale will benefit the tribe.

E) Cultural Art
Cultural Art refers to modern works produced by artisans or cultural cooperatives utilizing ancient techniques and/or materials. Often such material is produced by groups seeking to preserve cultural skills. Echoes In Time supports such activities and works with such groups in various countries to bring their work to our customers.

F) Support Products
These carefully selected products are designed to provide supplementary material in support of our primary products. They include educational materials, tapes, books, videos, games, etc. We will also try to suggest specific products and materials we don't carry if we feel it will be of interest to our customers.

AVAILABILITY
Echoes In Time is dedicated to providing accurate and authentic reproductions. While we will continuously attempt to maintain adequate inventories, all of our exact and scaled recreations are hand crafted. A single piece may require as many as 21 independent handpainted steps to accurately reproduce the original object. We ask your understanding if occasionally an item is not immediately available. In such an eventuality you would be notified by e-mail of the anticipated shipping date. If this were not acceptable, your order, of course, would be cancelled.

Also note that Original Artifacts and Tribal Art are, by their unique nature, usually available only in very limited quantities. When our stock in such items is exhausted, replacement inventory may not be obtainable. We appreciate your understanding in such situations.

EDITORIAL COMMENTARY
One of the reasons that Echoes In Time was created is due to the belief that our culture is in serious danger of losing touch with its roots. Between the impact of many Hollywood movie stereotype productions and the commercial efforts to exploit popular themes, we are being presented with seriously distorted pictures of our own past. Ironically, the real stories in our past are often more fantastic, more glorious, more touching, and more mysterious than the ones presented to us in the marketplace.

Most of the articles presented to people today as, say, 'Egyptian' or 'Greek' or 'Celtic' have little or no relationship with anything ever produced by these cultures. Rather they are all too often the product of a modern marketing effort attempting to capitalize on what they imagine people today have come to believe an Egyptian product, for example, should look like.

Our ancestors were really bright and clever people. Their tools were different. Their materials were different. Their knowledge was different. Their beliefs were different. However their motivations, their problems, their frustrations, their joys and their objectives were probably very similar to ours. They built some of the most magnificent and enigmatic structures the world has ever seen. They achieved mastery with certain tools and materials that are beyond anyone's ability today. They developed techniques with metal, ceramics and textiles that scientists are still trying to understand. They developed advanced political and cultural systems. They built dams and raised roadways, they irrigated mountainsides and deserts. They explored the world, survived its harshest climates and indeed left their mark. We are their legacy.

So when you see a glitzy 'Egyptian' piece or primitive looking 'Greek' jewelry, remember that artist's egos haven't changed in thousands of years. You have only to look at the simple perfection of a Greek Cycladic figure, the intricacy of a 3,000 year old Chinese jade carving, the detailed beauty of a tiny, 1,500 year old gold shaman from South America or the powerful flowing lines of a horse carved into rock 17,000 years ago to know that these artists would never have produced or accepted some of the works that are attributed to them today.

COMMITMENT
Our products and collections seek to honor the creative and innovative nature of all peoples. Their stories provide a sense of connection to not only our own origins but to the understanding that we are all part of a magnificent family with similarities and differences that are timeless.

We are committed to authenticity, accuracy and story telling. In that vein, we are very proud to provide our customers the highest quality products as a reminder that the legacies of the past echo in the present and suggest directions for the future.

BACKGROUND
Echoes In Time is a labor of love, borne out of an idea of its founder, Dr. Creve Maples, to couple accurate reproductions of real antiquities with the tradition of story telling in order to introduce people to past cultures and ideas. Rather than trying to provide a whole cultural history, we simply tell the story of a fascinating object. Separate fact from fiction, the known from the unknown, and the object becomes a key that unlocks the story every time you look at it. In addition to providing interesting and beautiful works of art, he hopes the recreations will provoke new questions and ideas. His desire is to invoke in customers a spirit of curiosity, a quest to learn more about our ancient ancestors and the common threads that unite us.