UK: Auction house cancels disputed sale of Ethiopian shield
A British auction house has withdrawn from a sale scheduled for February 29, 2024 an Ethiopian shield, which had been looted during an expedition in the 19th century, according to Addis Ababa.
Ethiopia had demanded that the process be stopped and the object repatriated to its country of origin.
Tewodros II, born Kassa Hailu in 1818, died April 13, 1868, first governor of Quara (Kwara) and from 1855 to 1868 emperor of Ethiopia, digitally restored historical reproduction of an original 19th century artwork, original date exact unknown.
Bildagentur-online/Universal Ima - Bildagentur-online
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A controversial auction has just been canceled: a 19th century Ethiopian shield was to be put up for auction this Thursday morning in the North of England.
According to Addis Ababa, the object had been looted during a battle by British troops.
Ethiopia
had demanded that the sale be stopped and the shield repatriated to its country of origin.
It was lot 903 from the catalog of auctioneers Anderson and Garland which attracted the attention of the Ethiopian authorities.
Estimated between 950 and 1400 euros, it is a 19th century shield in a circular shape, decorated with floral motifs and metal bands.
🇪🇹 #Restitutions: Ethiopia wants to prevent the sale of a shield stolen in 1868.
© Anderson & Garland #Ethiopia #UK #Provenancehttps://t.co/dbKLbphtRz
— Le Journal des Arts (@JDAofficiel) February 29, 2024
According to the Ethiopian Heritage Authority, it was looted on April 13, 1868 at the Battle of Magdala between British troops and Ethiopian Emperor Tewodros II.
Winner, General Robert Napier ordered his men to burn the city and loot as many objects as they could...
In 2021, Addis Ababa took the same approach
The current owner of the shield is unknown.
Experts believe that a British soldier acquired it and the object remained in his family.
The Ethiopian Heritage Authority has written to Anderson and Garland.
For her, the object was “
 illegally acquired in the context of a punitive expedition.
We urge you to cancel the sale, organize its return and repatriation
,” the letter said.
In 2021, Addis Ababa made the same approach during an auction in the south of England of objects also stolen from Magdala.
Under diplomatic pressure, the sale was canceled.
The haircuts, letters and hair of a prince had returned to Ethiopia in early January.
A “ 
diplomatic victory
 ”, Addis Ababa declared at the time.
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