Bronze head of a griffinThe 7th century before our era returned to Greece as part of the repatriation of putting efforts from cultural artefacts. Photo: Bruce Schwarz / Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The repatriation of cultural artefacts continues while the Metropolitan Museum of Art returns a 7th Bronze head BCE Griffin in Greece
By Artcentron News
The Metropolitan Museum of Art (the MET) in New York has returned a Bronze griffin head dating from the 7th century BC to Greece. An ancient artifact, this extraordinary object is part of the MET collection since 1972. Archaeological Museum of Olympia in Greece In the 1930s. The return of Griffin's head highlighted the current global commitment to stolen repatriated or cultural treasures victims of illegal meat. It marks an essential step in the efforts to research and restore the provenance.
The Griffin bronze head dates back 2,600 years. It is a significant artifact in terms of age, artistic and historical value. Griffon heads in the casting bronze were formerly used to decorate large ceremony calendars in the Greek sanctuaries. These cauldrons served as votive gifts for the gods, making Griffin's head an essential piece of old Religious life and an old Greek ceremony. Today, archaeologists discover many similar objects. However, this particular griffin head is one of the most beautiful examples to exist. Its complex know-how and its well-preserved state make it an irreplaceable piece of ancient Greek history.
The old Griffin bronze head: a cultural treasure
Griffin's head was discovered in 1914 in a river bed in the Peloponnese region of Greece by a curator at the Archaeological Museum of Olympia. This museum houses some of the most important archaeological artefacts in Greece. It was not aware that the Griffin Head had been stolen in his collection. In 1948, he surfaced in New York, where the financier and the trustee of Met Walter C. Baker bought it from a dealer. Baker then bequeathed it to the Met in 1972. The artifact quickly became a precious exhibition in the Greek and Roman galleries of the museum, where it remained for decades.
For years, Griffin Head's fate has remained a mystery. It was only during the recent research on provenance and surveys by the MET and Greek officials that the real story behind its disappearance was revealed. The revelation was that the artifact was stolen when the Archaeological Museum of Olympia was under the management of a certain museum chief. The individual subsequently continued criminally over 80 years ago for his role in the flight.
MET's commitment to research on provenance
The return of Griffin's head in Greece marked a significant achievement in the continuous commitment of the MET towards research on the provenance. In recent years, the museum has increased its efforts to investigate the origins of its collection. This objective is to ensure that the acquisition of a part was not by illicit means. The appointment of Lucian Simmons as an inaugural research manager of the provenance in 2023 marked a new chapter of the museum's efforts to resolve any doubtful provenance of his assets.
Simmons was a former senior specialist in the international art world at Sotheby's. He directed the initiative to investigate the origin of the articles in the vast collection of the museum. This effort was essential in the identification of Griffin's head as a stolen artifact And initiating the conversations that finally led to his return to Greece. The repatriation of Griffin's head is the first successful return of any antiquity under the direction of Simmons. However, discussions surrounding the return have been underway since 2018.
The role of the Greek government in repatriation
The repatriation of Griffin's head is the result of a vast collaboration between the Met and the Greek government. Greece has long been the victim of cultural and illicit trafficking of its former treasures. In fact, many most popular artifacts in Greece have been illegally removed from their homeland during the last century, with countless objects found in private collections or foreign museums.
Greek Minister of Greek, Lina Mendoni, went to the United States for the official transfer of Griffin's head. She expressed her gratitude to the Met for her role in the return of the artifact. Mendoni praised the dedication of the museum to investigate the origin of his collection. More importantly, it has recognized the meaning of this gesture for Greece, both symbolically and practically.
“Greece is one of the countries where cultural treasures have long undergone an illicit flight and traffic,” said Mendoni. “On behalf of the Greek government and the inhabitants of Greece, I extend my gratitude to the museum administration and conservation staff. This gesture has a deep symbolic and practical meaning. »»
Repatriation of cultural artefacts: The wider impact
The return of Griffin's head is more than the return of an artifact stolen from his legitimate house. It represents the broader movement towards the restitution of cultural goods. Above all, he explains the strengthening of international cooperation in the fight against theft of art and illicit trade. For Greece, this return symbolizes a victory in the current fight to recover cultural artefacts taken without authorization, often in violation of international conventions and agreements.
This repatriation also sends a message to other museums and collectors from around the world. He urges them to ensure an appropriate verification of their collections. Above all, this encourages them to adopt transparent practices when it comes to acquiring and showing cultural artefacts. With increasing pressure from the global community, museums must demonstrate higher standards concerning the origin of their collections. Griffin Head's return to Greece marks an important step in this evolutionary dialogue.
Future collaborations: Greece and put it
Although the Griffin Head is now returned to Greece, the collaboration between Greece and the Met will continue. In a gesture of goodwill and shared cultural heritage, Greece has agreed to lend the Griffin Reamer to the Met for an exhibition next year. This current cultural exchange will allow the New York public. During the show, visitors from around the world have the chance to appreciate the meaning of this former artifact. They will also have the chance to honor the spirit of international cooperation.
Max Hollein, director and CEO of the MET, expressed the museum's commitment to a more in -depth collaboration with Greece. “The MET is honored to collaborate with the Hellenic Republic on the return from this extraordinary object. We are grateful for our long-standing partnership with the Greek government and we are delighted with continuous commitment and cultural exchange opportunities, “he said.
The role of museums in the protection of cultural heritage
The repatriation of Griffin's head highlights the crucial role played by museums in the protection and preservation of cultural heritage. Although museums are often the guards of the most important artefacts in the world, they must also be transparent. In addition, they must show responsibility and integrity with regard to the acquisition and management of cultural objects. Hope is that many artistic institutions will join the repatriation of cultural artefacts.
While the research program on the origin of the MET continues to evolve, expectations are that many other artifacts with dubious origins will be placed under the microscope. This research will eventually lead to new repatriations of stolen artefacts or illegally victims. The actions of the museum create an important precedent for the world artistic community. Hopefully this will inspire other institutions to follow the plunge and get involved in significant efforts to restore cultural treasures in their legitimate homes.
A new era in the repatriation of cultural artefacts
The return of the old Griffin bronze head to Greece is a historic event in the current world movement to restore stolen cultural treasures. It highlights the growing importance of research on provenance. Above all, it demonstrates the power of international cooperation to meet the challenges posed by cultural theft and illicit trafficking.
By referring this invaluable artifact to his legitimate house, it goes to the repatriation of cultural artefacts. He gives a powerful example for other museums and institutions from around the world to follow. The continuous collaboration between Greece and the Met promises to promote a deeper appreciation of the shared cultural heritage. It will guarantee that future generations can discover these remarkable artifacts in their true historical context.
