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To halt the sale of a stolen colonial-era shield this week and prevent it from ending up in a private collection. The Ethiopian National Heritage national restitution committee reportedly contacted the UK’s Anderson & Garland auction house about the 19th-century Abyssinian shield, stating that it needs to be removed from Thursday’s auction. The Ethiopian government has referred to the auction as inappropriate and immoral.
“Since the artifact has been wrongfully acquired in the context of a punitive expedition to Ethiopia in which these items were looted, the sale of this item in your auction is inappropriate,” the letter from the committee read.
Although Anderson & Garland confirmed receipt of the letter, the organization refrained from offering any additional remarks. Furthermore, the committee reportedly requested that the auction house start the restitution procedure and send the item back to Ethiopia, where it was captured during the 1868 Battle of Maqdala (or Magdala) (presently Amba Mariam village).
The British Lord Napier defeated the Ethiopian Emperor Tewodros II in the battle, and then his troops looted thousands of items. These treasures were taken to the UK and ended up in both private collections and public museums. The Abyssinian armor that may be sold this week is described by the auction house as a “circular dome shield made from hide and decorated in blind, with white metal strapwork and floral appliques” and is engraved in the center with “Magdala 13th April 1868.”
For centuries, colonial forces have plundered cultural artifacts and treasures of major historical and cultural importance to African societies. These priceless objects were frequently taken to museums and private collections in Europe, depriving African nations of their cultural legacy.
Africa, however, has been fighting to receive stolen treasures back: Ghana, Ethiopia, and Benin have been successful to some extent. However, it’s only a small portion, and many more items are still held captive in European museums and private collections.
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In January, Ethiopia got back artifacts belonging to Emperor Tewodros II that were taken by the British Empire in 1868. The items included a horn bowl, two silver-plated bowls, a shield, and even a lock of hair belonging to Prince Alemayehu Tewodros, who was taken to the UK with his mother and passed away at the age of 18.
