Heritage Key Survey - Should museums return artefacts?

Hi

I didn't fill in the survey because my view is that when claims for artefact/object repatriation are made they should be considered on a case by case basis.  If cases are not decided on their merits (or lack of them) it opens the way for universal assumptions regarding repatriation.  Setting of a precedent without strict criteria could be very dangerous. 

Whilst some objects clearly should be returned because it can be demonstrated unambiguously that they were removed illegally, others which have suddenly become desirable to states now in control of the point of origin of an artefact may have been removed with the agreement of the original state/ruler.

Nefertiti is a useful, if tedious, case in point because the matter is far from clear-cut.  The German government claim that they are entitled to own the bust; the Egyptian government claim that it was removed via trickery.  Who is correct?  At the moment this is all speculation because insufficient evidence has been presented by each side.  In the event that neither side is able to provide suitable evidence the matter becomes one of negotiation - a negotiation which has to take into account the condition of the bust itself.  If the bust is indeed as fragile as Germany claims then a temporary loan arrangement would scarcely be beneficial to the item itself.  In that event the discussion would have to be whether or not Germany retains the bust or releases it on a permanent basis.  That's a hard call for Germany to make (and might even require a change of the constitution of the Neues Museum).

In an ideal world should the Nefertiti bust be in Egypt or should it be an ambassador?  That's the 10 million dollar question.  The fact is that Egypt isn't like France or Britian or the US, nations which have collected works from all over the world so that the world can see a cross section of global culture gathered together.  Egypt only collects information about Egypt and it already has a lot of it, not all of which has been curated as well as it should have been.  Not all items should be repatriated.  The modern world is a big place which has evolved from many different cultures, and museums give us the chance to get up close and personal to the most beautiful and the most primitive output of those cultures.  Unless it can be demostrated that Nefertiti was taken from Egypt illegally she is, in my view, a remarkable ambassador for Egypt, apparently winning the hearts of all those who visit.

To be honest I am completely hacked off with Nefertiti having read far too much about her recently.  The exact conditions under which these items (Nefertiti, the Rosetta Stone, the Denderah astrological stone etc) were removed from Egypt are all different and need to be considered individually.

I'm only surprised that the French haven't tried to persuade the British to return the Rosetta Stone - I'm sure that they must have a case  :-)

Cheers
Andie

 

The concept of reparations, generations after the fact, is hard to implement.  Fact is, by the time it's passed down a few generations, they become attached to it as if it had always been theirs.

I personally thing that such items should become communal property, traded through all cooperating museums as a moving art exhibit.

I think that it is high way robbery that to steal anything that is of culture value to another country. Let's just imagine for a minute - that the American Flag was stolen from the White house. And for some unknown reason it got into the hands of the Iraq Museum. Now we all know how Americans feel about their heritage. It would be demanded from the Iraq Museum with out any after thought. However, in that case the Iraq Museum decides to not return the American Flag. There would be hell to pay. Firstly, I think the American president more than likely would wage wage against Iraq for their property.Just like President Bush did to Saddam. So, I think that yes, every single art object should be offered to the country of origin. But, A special compromise should be made for a duplicate to be viewed at said museum. It is high time that citizens of the world understand not bow down for some sections of society. The common man cannot steal a painting or any artwork and not think they should return it. Or, for that matter they they would not be prosecuted if found out. The British Museum especially, should honor foreign countries and the crimes they have committed towards them. Especially if it mean they - British - have stolen part of another countries heritage and have the unmitigated nerve to exhibit it in their museums. No amount of monetary value or donations can ever replace the real value of seeing artworks in their place of original. It's like saying the Mona Lisa - if stolen, should be exhibited else where. When the world knows it belongs to France.

I think that ALL of these  ancient artifacts Must be returned to their place of origin  they were taken many years ago and it`s time to return them and displayed in EGYPT

Most Egyptian attifacts are alright where they are but Nefertiti should be in Egypt, becaiuse the maount of people who go to Egypt expecting to see her is staggering. I have been to Egypt twice and i have told at least 30 people that Nefertiti is in Germany. Nefertiti is a major part of egyprian history and most egyptians have never seen her or the Rosetta stone. I will not go to Germany to see an Egyptian treasure.