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

eesdirector.tumblr.com/