Following recent moves by European museums to return African art treasures to Nigeria, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York announced Wednesday that it is sending three objects back to the country. Two of the works, a pair of 16th-century Benin Court brass plaques of a Warrior
The plaques, produced in what is now Nigeria, were looted during the British military occupation and have been in museums and a private collection since 1897.
Met Museum Announces Return of Two Benin Bronzes to Nigeria
The museum, which has some 160 items from Benin City, becomes the latest institution to announce the restitution of some of the priceless artifacts.
“Warrior Chief,” a 16th-century brass plaque, is one of the objects that the Met Museum will return to Nigeria.Credit.Metropolitan Museum of Art
June 9, 2021, 6:52 p.m. ET
The Metropolitan Museum of Art announced on Wednesday that it planned to return two brass plaques from its collection, part of the group of West African artifacts known as the Benin Bronzes, to Nigeria, making it the latest institution to pursue repatriation of the looted works.
Junior Court Official is one of two 16th-century plaques produced at the Court of Benin that will be returned to Nigeria by the Met. Credit: Courtesy The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Metropolitan Museum of Art Sends Three Benin Bronzes Home To Nigeria By
at 1:56 pm NPR
Beautiful bronze sculptures and castings from West Africa have long been exhibited in some of the world s most august institutions, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art announced Wednesday it s returning three of these artworks to Nigeria. They include two 16th-century brass plaques created at the Court of Benin, and a brass head produced in Ife around the 14th century.