Beyond The MET: Reclaimed Objects is a collection of artifacts and art pieces that used to live in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, but have now been returned to the rightful owner.
The exhibition not only displays the objects themselves but also tells the stories behind their looting and return, highlighting the importance of ethical and responsible stewardship of cultural heritage.
Through this exhibition, The MET aims to promote greater awareness and understanding of the importance of cultural heritage, and inspire visitors and other global museums to take action towards safeguarding and preserving these treasures for future generations.
Looted art has been a consequence of looting during war, natural disaster and riot for centuries. Looting of art, archaeology and other cultural property may be an opportunistic criminal act or may be a more organized case of unlawful or unethical pillage by the victor of a conflict.
MET’S MISSION TO ETHICAL PRACTICES
“Each of these objects has unique and complex circumstances, and with all, The Metropolitan Museum of Art has been fully supportive of the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office investigations”
“The norms of collecting have changed significantly in recent decades, and The Met’s policies and procedures in this regard have been under constant review over the past 20 years.”
RELATED TERMS
art repatriation
the process of returning artworks and antiques to their rightful owners (also art restitution)
art THEFT
the stealing of valuable artifacts, mostly because of commercial reasons
provenance
the origin or source of a piece of art
illicit antiquities
covertly traded antiquities or artifacts of archaeological interest, found in illegal or unregulated excavations
