Cleveland Museum Buys Could Re-Ignite Antiquities Debate
August 13, 2012 | Read Time: 1 minute
The Cleveland Museum of Art is set to announce on Monday its acquisition of two ancient objects without ironclad records of ownership predating 1970, contrary to what has become standard practice in the museum world, according to The New York Times.
Association of Art Museum Directors guidelines call for institutions to only acquire antiquities with definitive paper trails dating to before 1970. The standards, adopted in 2008 in response to concerns over the trade in looted treasures, leave room for museums to exercise discretion in collecting ancient objects.
Cleveland Museum Director David Franklin has adopted a staunchly pro-collection stance since taking office in 2010. He said the museum has “done our due diligence” regarding the new acquisitions—a Roman marble head dating to the time of Christ and a painted Mayan vessel from 600 to 900 A.D.—and is confident they were not illicitly obtained.
The Times says the move is likely to draw renewed attention to the complex debate over antiquities collecting, and to the Cleveland Museum’s ambitious expansion.
