association policies: the case of the ees
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Association
Policies:
the case of the
Egypt
Exploration Society
Dr Chris Naunton, EES
The Egypt Exploration Society
working in Egypt for 125 yearswww.ees.ac.uk
What is the EES’ connection to objects
of the kind that are on the market?
Objects excavated and recorded
scientifically
‘Partage’
• Developed by Petrie - while working for
the EES - and Maspero
• EES allowed to retain a portion of the
objects
Objects then transferred to London and exhibited
to the public as a record of the year’s work
Subsequently distributed to museums
and other public institutions
Oxyrhynchu
s Papyri
• over
500,000
papyrus
fragments
• the largest
collection of
papyri in the
world
…with the blessing of the
Egyptian authorities
‘partage’ ended in 1983
all objects excavated since then have
remained in Egypt, in the charge of the MSA
EES Mission:
to explore ancient Egyptian sites and
monuments,
to create a lasting record of the remains,
to generate enthusiasm for, and increase
knowledge and understanding of, Egypt’s
past and
to raise awareness of the importance of
protecting its heritage.
Trade is of particular relevance to the EES
when it concerns pieces excavated by the
Society and distributed to public collections
“…to present any
such antiquities or
things to any public
body, university,
school, library, or
other similar
institutions.”
“Public collections offer the best hope that
ancient objects are safeguarded against loss
or deterioration to their condition, and that
they will remain accessible to scholars and
the wider public for study and enjoyment...”
“Public collections offer the best hope that
ancient objects are safeguarded against loss
or deterioration to their condition, and that
they will remain accessible to scholars and
the wider public for study and enjoyment...”
“Public collections offer the best hope that
ancient objects are safeguarded against loss
or deterioration to their condition, and that
they will remain accessible to scholars and
the wider public for study and enjoyment...”
intended that such material would remain
in public collections in perpetuity.
intended that such material would remain
in public collections in perpetuity.
However…
intended that such material would remain
in public collections in perpetuity.
However…
Sometimes they are sold on,
against the Society’s original intention
“…Objects which are sold on the open
market may be transferred to collections
which are not required to provide such
safeguards, and which have no obligations
to make the material they contain
accessible.”
“…Objects which are sold on the open
market may be transferred to collections
which are not required to provide such
safeguards, and which have no obligations
to make the material they contain
accessible.”
“…Objects which are sold on the open
market may be transferred to collections
which are not required to provide such
safeguards, and which have no obligations
to make the material they contain
accessible.”
Sold to the Met…
Sold to the Met…
Great!
Sold to the Met…
Great!
But…
Many thousands of objects excavated by the
BSAE and EES were distributed to public
collections in the UK, USA and elsewhere
and remain in those collections today.
Much stands to be lost if further material
of this kind is offered for sale.
It was not only the case of the Harageh
objects that was of concern therefore…
It was not only the case of the Harageh
objects that was of concern therefore…
…but the potential for further sales in future.
Statements from St Louis and
Bonhams suggested that there was
nothing wrong with the sale
But it was the actions of negotiators in the
US at the Met and elsewhere that brought
about this result.
We cannot rely on that being the case next
time the St Louis AIA etc. wants to dispose
of objects
And the apparent ‘success’ in this case
may encourage further such sales
– we must resist this.
Issue isn’t new but recent efforts are vital, as
the problem seems to be getting worse…
www.ees.ac.uk
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