Metropolitan Museum Returns Ancient Sumerian Statue to Iraq
The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York has repatriated an ancient Sumerian copper alloy statue from the third millennium BC to authorities in Iraq. The museum acquired the statue in 1955 but did not disclose how it left Iraq or the specific reasons for its return. The male figure with a box on its head was returned to Iraqi officials during a ceremony in Washington, DC. The museum’s director, Max Hollein, emphasized the importance of responsible collecting and collaboration with Iraq.
The one-foot-tall statue has been displayed at the Met and lent to other museums, including the Morgan Library and Museum. The Met has hired a restitution expert to lead provenance research following growing public scrutiny. Recent restitution cases involving countries like Cambodia, China, Egypt, India, Italy, Nepal, Nigeria, and Yemen have led to increased transparency in sharing information about restituted objects. The digital collection entry for the Sumerian statue will remain publicly accessible.
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Elara Voss, graduated from the Royal College of Art in London with a Master’s in Fine Art. She specializes in contemporary sculpture and installation art, exploring themes of nature and human interaction. Elara’s works have been featured in several group exhibitions across Europe, and she is currently working on her first solo show.