Subscribe
Search
ePaper
Newsletters
Subscribe
ePaper
Newsletters
Art market
Museums & heritage
Exhibitions
Books
Podcasts
Columns
Technology
Adventures with Van Gogh
Art market
Museums & heritage
Exhibitions
Books
Podcasts
Columns
Technology
Adventures with Van Gogh
Search
Museums & Heritage
news

Maqdala shield to be repatriated to Ethiopia

Withdrawn from auction in February, the shield will make a stop at the Toledo Museum of Art before going on public display at the National Museum of Ethiopia in Addis Ababa

Elena Goukassian
7 October 2024
Share
Courtesy the Royal Ethiopian Trust

Courtesy the Royal Ethiopian Trust

A 19th-century Ethiopian shield pillaged by the British during the 1868 Battle of Maqdala will be repatriated in November, after a brief stint on display at Ohio’s Toledo Museum of Art (until 27 October). The shield was withdrawn from auction in February, when the Ethiopian government identified it as loot and requested it be restituted from the UK. On its return, it will go on public display at the National Museum of Ethiopia in Addis Ababa.

“This shield is not just an historical artefact; it is a symbol of Ethiopia’s history and resilience,” Ermias Sahle Selassi, a grandson of Emperor Haile Selassie and founder of the Royal Ethiopian Trust (which negotiated the shield’s return), said in a statement. “Our efforts and success in regaining this treasure is a testament to our commitment to preserve our heritage and honour our ancestors who fought for our nation’s sovereignty.”

Looted art

Auctioneer withdraws looted shield from sale after restitution request from Ethiopian government

Martin Bailey

The Battle of Maqdala, the last struggle in the British Expedition to Abyssinia, led to significant looting by the victorious British forces, who took Emperor Tewodros II’s crown along with ceremonial crosses, chalices, weapons and the holy icon Kwer’ata Re’esu. Many of these objects remain in museums in the UK, although several of them have been repatriated in recent years. The leather-and-silver shield is engraved with "Magdala 13th April 1868”, marking the date of the battle during which it was looted.

In Toledo, the shield briefly joins the last leg of the travelling exhibition Ethiopia at the Crossroads. The show includes more than 200 pieces of art and cultural objects spanning 1,750 years of Ethiopian history, including Haile Selassie's royal cloak.

Museums & HeritageLooted artMaqdalaMaqdala treasuresRestitutionEthiopiaToledo Museum of Art
Share
Subscribe to The Art Newspaper’s digital newsletter for your daily digest of essential news, views and analysis from the international art world delivered directly to your inbox.
Newsletter sign-up
Information
About
Contact
Cookie policy
Data protection
Privacy policy
Frequently Asked Questions
Subscription T&Cs
Terms and conditions
Advertise
Sister Papers
Sponsorship policy
Follow us
Facebook
Instagram
YouTube
LinkedIn
© The Art Newspaper