Boston Museum of Fine Arts Returns Two Artifacts to the Kingdom of Benin: Two priceless artifacts, originally gifted to the museum, are being sent back to their rightful owners, the Kingdom of Benin, in a recent restitution effort.
In a significant move towards rectifying historical injustices, the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) Boston has returned two artifacts, the Commemorative Head and the Relief Plaque, to the Kingdom of Benin after 12 years in its collection.
These artifacts, dating back to the 16th or 17th century, are of great historical and cultural importance. The Commemorative Head is a terracotta and iron piece, while the Relief Plaque is a bronze work depicting two officials with raised swords. Both artifacts were part of a larger collection of artworks looted during the British military's Punitive Expedition in 1897.
The journey of these artifacts began in 1897 when British forces raided Benin City, leading to the looting of numerous artifacts. The Commemorative Head was sold in London in 1899, while the Relief Plaque was sold in 1898. Both were eventually acquired by Augustus Pitt-Rivers for his museum in Farnham, England. After the museum closed in the 1960s, its collections were dispersed. Robert Owen Lehman, an art collector, acquired the two works and donated them to the MFA Boston in 2013 and 2018.
The repatriation process was coordinated and facilitated by Dr. Arese Carrington, a member of the MFA's Board of Advisors. The ceremony took place at the Nigeria House in New York City on June 27, where the Commemorative Head and the Relief Plaque were presented to His Royal Highness Prince Aghatise Erediauwa and H.E. Ambassador Samson Itegboje of the Embassy of Nigeria. Some members of the Benin community in New York were also present to witness the return.
The National Commission for Museums and Monuments will take possession of the returned artifacts and coordinate their handling, care, transit to Nigeria, and delivery to the Oba of Benin. This repatriation underscores the ongoing efforts to rectify historical injustices and restore cultural heritage to its rightful owners. It also marks a significant step in the MFA's colonial-era provenance project, which was launched in 2021 to address similar issues of looted artifacts.
The MFA previously acknowledged that many items in the Lehman Collection, including the returned artifacts, can be traced to the attack on Benin in 1897. However, the provenance of the remaining items in the Lehman Collection is inconclusive, as they can be traced to the European and American art markets in the second half of the 20th century, and it is not known for certain when or how they left Benin.
Research on these objects is ongoing, and the MFA remains committed to working with the Benin community and other institutions to address the complex issues surrounding the provenance of these artifacts. The return of these artifacts is not only a significant step towards reconciliation but also a testament to the power of collaboration and the importance of returning cultural heritage to its rightful owners.
- The artifacts, such as the Commemorative Head and the Relief Plaque, are significant pieces of fine art, specifically sculptures, that hold historical and cultural importance.
- The art market played a role in the past when these artifacts were auctioned off, with the Commemorative Head being sold in London in 1899 and the Relief Plaque in 1898.
- Collectors like Robert Owen Lehman acquired these artworks and donated them to institutions like the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) Boston, as was the case with the Commemorative Head in 2013 and the Relief Plaque in 2018.
- Galleries and museums, particularly the MFA Boston, have been actively involved in the repatriation process, working alongside curators and political figures to return artifacts to their rightful owners, as seen in the recent return of the Commemorative Head and the Relief Plaque.
- The return of such artifacts from institutions like the MFA Boston to their countries of origin, such as the Kingdom of Benin, not only reflects general news about ongoing efforts to rectify historical injustices but also emphasizes the importance of preserving and returning cultural heritage to its rightful owners.
