On Tuesday, the Metropolitan Museum of Art made a significant announcement regarding the restitution of an ancient artefact to Iraq. The museum revealed that it had returned a sculpture dating back to the third millennium BCE, as part of its ongoing investigation into the origins of artefacts housed within its permanent collection.
The artefact in question is a Sumerian figurine, crafted from copper alloy, and previously catalogued within the museum’s collection under the title “Man Carrying a Box, Possibly for Offerings.” After careful consideration and internal scrutiny, the museum concluded that the figurine may have originally been displayed within a temple. It was initially acquired by the museum in 1955 and has been under its possession for nearly seven decades.
According to publicly available records detailing the object’s provenance, the Metropolitan Museum of Art officially deaccessioned the piece in October 2023, paving the way for its return to Iraq. Following the museum’s internal investigation, which flagged the object for review, researchers determined its likely place of origin. Subsequently, the museum engaged in discussions with Iraqi culture officials, culminating in the formal restitution of the artefact.
The artefact’s journey to the museum traces back to dealer Elias S. David, a prominent figure specializing in Near Eastern art during the mid-20th century. David, who passed away in 1969, was closely associated with Charles Wilkinson, the Met’s former curator of Near Eastern art. Notably, additional artefacts from David’s collection are also held by the museum, as revealed by public records.
However, the extent to which other objects associated with David have been scrutinized for potential provenance issues remains uncertain.
This restitution comes amidst the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s concerted efforts to address concerns regarding the provenance of its collections. Last year, in response to mounting pressure from restitution advocates, the museum initiated a comprehensive review of its holdings. Led by Lucian Simmons, an expert in restitution disputes formerly affiliated with Sotheby’s, the museum established an internal provenance research team.
The Met’s initiative reflects a broader trend of heightened scrutiny surrounding the acquisition practices of cultural institutions worldwide. Notably, inquiries from the Manhattan district attorney’s office have brought attention to private antiquity collections amassed during the latter half of the 20th century, particularly concerning their potential connections to looted archaeological sites.
In light of these developments, the Metropolitan Museum of Art has taken proactive steps to address any provenance-related concerns within its collection. This latest restitution underscores the museum’s commitment to ethical stewardship and the responsible management of cultural heritage.
As inquiries into the museum’s collections continue, ARTnews has reached out to the Metropolitan Museum of Art for further comment on this recent development.