If one were to go into someone's locker steal their phone, bookbag and a priceless watch that their late grandfather gave to them they should have everything done in their power to get their things back. In many ways the stealing of art pieces leave the museum directors and curators with the same feeling as if one took their own valuable belongings. For many reasons curators around the world are trying to retrieve back what was once theirs or their country’s. The antiquities are often taken without warning and never returned unless one hires people to get that specific piece back. Antiquities acquired by museums without permission should be required to return the pieces to the original place because of the fact that the pieces were looted
…show more content…
Author John Tierney brings to light that Egypt's secretary general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, Zahi Hawass is demanding pieces once taken from eygpt be returned. The author states, “Last month, after Dr. Hawass suspended the Louvre’s excavation in Egypt, the museum promptly returned the ancient fresco fragments he sought.” (1). Dr. Hawass demands what is rightfully Egypt’s property and makes sure not one museum takes any other works. He is passionate and believes that works of art that are not in their rightful country and were acquired outside of the law should be returned. In the article, “Returning Antiquities to Their Countries of Origin” the author quotes expert, Malcolm Bell III on his beliefs; “According to Bell, a country’s request for the return of an antiquity ‘usually has a strong legal basis.’ It ‘was exported illegally, probably also excavated illegally, and...is now...stolen property’ He called the return of antiquities ‘an expression of justice’” (Mortimer 2). Not only is the return of antiquities a show of what is polite and respectful but is also a lawful statement. When one museum returns work that was stolen and given to them they are upholding the law and preventing a court case. The works are seen as stolen property therefore the handling or keeping of the antiquities is unlawful, not ethically right and can be taken to trial if it comes to that. The museum holding the stolen artwork has an obligation to return the work to the original country or
Author John Tierney brings to light that Egypt's secretary general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, Zahi Hawass is demanding pieces once taken from eygpt be returned. The author states, “Last month, after Dr. Hawass suspended the Louvre’s excavation in Egypt, the museum promptly returned the ancient fresco fragments he sought.” (1). Dr. Hawass demands what is rightfully Egypt’s property and makes sure not one museum takes any other works. He is passionate and believes that works of art that are not in their rightful country and were acquired outside of the law should be returned. In the article, “Returning Antiquities to Their Countries of Origin” the author quotes expert, Malcolm Bell III on his beliefs; “According to Bell, a country’s request for the return of an antiquity ‘usually has a strong legal basis.’ It ‘was exported illegally, probably also excavated illegally, and...is now...stolen property’ He called the return of antiquities ‘an expression of justice’” (Mortimer 2). Not only is the return of antiquities a show of what is polite and respectful but is also a lawful statement. When one museum returns work that was stolen and given to them they are upholding the law and preventing a court case. The works are seen as stolen property therefore the handling or keeping of the antiquities is unlawful, not ethically right and can be taken to trial if it comes to that. The museum holding the stolen artwork has an obligation to return the work to the original country or