The British Museum has one of the largest collections of artworks, antiquities, and collectibles. It also has one of the largest collections of controversies. For the longest time, the museum enjoyed its reputation as a premier space to exhibit wonders of the world. However, as the century turned, so did the public opinion on the institution. The most recent scandal involving the theft of thousands of objects might be the biggest scandal yet faced by the esteemed museum, but it was far from the only one. The British Museum has a long and controversial history; let’s take a deep dive at it.
Establishment
The British Museum traces its origin to Sir Hans Sloane, an 18th-century physician and scientist from London. Throughout his life, Sloane cultivated an impressive collection of books, manuscripts, and various other specimens. He donated his collection to the Crown upon his death; thus, in 1753 King George III laid the foundations of the British Museum.
At the time, this was revolutionary: a ‘universal museum’ that belonged neither to the royalty nor to the clergy. During the 19th century, the museum saw rapid expansion as British elites started donating artifacts obtained at the height of British colonialism. Today, while the museum has moved away from its original collection of books and natural specimens, it remains one of the premier museums in the world.
‘Stolen’ Objects
In the latter half of the 20th century, during the post-colonial era of the world, the British Museum increasingly came under the radar of examining colonial exploitation; namely, the accusation that most of the objects in its collection were ‘stolen’. Perhaps the most well-known example is the Elgin Marbles, better known as the Parthenon Marbles. Between 1801-1812, Lord Elgin oversaw the excavation of marble sculptures in Parthenon, Greece, and eventual transportation to the British Museum. For many decades, the Greek government has laid firm claim on the Parthenon Marbles and demanded its return. The matter seemed close to resolution in 2023 but remained in a deadlock.
Iconic objects like the Rosetta Stone, the Ethiopian Tabots, the Oxus Treasure, and some Welsh artifacts are similarly claimed to have been stolen. The museum has maintained a firm stance on these objects over the years. As per the museum, these objects are an integral part of their collection and their safety might be compromised if they were returned to their home countries. Such statements have been met with further backlash. Another famous example is the Benin Bronzes, a collection of bronze sculptures looted from the Kingdom of Benin in 1897. Many of them landed in the collection of the British Museum. Unlike most other artifacts, however, the museum at least seems willing to repatriate the objects to Nigeria.
Lost Objects
Despite its concerns for the safety of the precious artifacts, the British Museum has not been safe from thefts itself. Major thefts in the past included several coins and medals in the 1970s, a 17th-century Japanese artifact stolen in 1990, and £250,000 worth of Roman coins and jewelry stolen in 1993. A £50,000 Greek marble head was stolen in 2002 while a Cartier diamond has been missing from its collection since 2017.
Such thefts occur in almost every major museum, so the British Museum didn’t face much backlash from them. However, their biggest scandal to date unraveled in August of last year, when it was revealed that curator Peter Higgs was fired for stealing some artifacts from the museum’s collection. The ‘some’ was soon revealed to be a staggering number; more than 2,000 antiques and artifacts were said to have been stolen from the museum’s collection over 15 years. Subsequent reports revealed that the museum’s leadership – including the director – was warned of the thefts and chose to ignore it. The scandal led to the resignation of the museum’s top brass and put a permanent dent in the reputation of the British Museum. Since the revelation, many countries have strengthened their repatriation calls, citing the gaping security concerns at the museum.
Big Business Lobbying
Despite claims of being an independent entity, the museum has often been accused of having links with big businesses that use the museum as a front for publicity or image makeover. The oil giant BP has been a particular target of such accusations. BP’s role in promoting fossil fuels and ties with the British Museum has served to implicate the latter in endorsing the former. This has led to protests among the museum staff and the resignation of museum trustee Ahdaf Soueif in the past. Despite this, the museum renewed its ties with BP in December of last year.
But BP is not the only major business influencing the museum. It has been revealed that a Chairman’s Advisory Group exists in the British Museum, comprised largely of business leaders. The museum has refrained from disclosing the names of its members, or the extent of their influence on the museum’s decision-making. The museum also had long ties with the Sackler family – responsible for the Opioid Crisis – and only severed it in 2022.
More Controversies
Major controversies aside, the British Museum keeps finding new ways to embroil in hot waters. A significant recurring issue is the museum’s collection of Nazi-looted art. Since at least 2002, there have been calls to return artworks looted during the Nazi era to the heirs of their original Jewish owners. The law prohibiting this was changed in 2022, thus giving the museum powers to make such decisions. A 2017 survey suggested that almost one-third of more than 20,000 artworks acquired by the museum since 1933 have dubious provenance for the WWII period.
In May 2023, the museum again found itself at the receiving end of backlash when it was accused of using the works of another artist without permission. The museum used the English translation of Chinese poetry, done by translator Yilin Wang, for its exhibition without her permission or giving her credit. The museum settled with her in August.
It would be wrong to say that the British Museum is done and dusted. However, the pile-up of controversies over the years, punctuated by the grand theft scandal last year, has shaken the institution. Moving forward, the museum needs to re-invent itself in a new light. This would begin with righting the wrongs committed in the past.
