Golden Coffin of Nedjemankh– looted from Egypt and sold with false provenance

The Victoria & Albert Museum in London is currently closed, but it continues to create and distribute valuable content examining issues related to art and heritage looting. Through Culture in Crisis, a program bringing together individuals and organizations with a shared interest in protecting cultural heritage, the museum is actively engaging with heritage professionals to provide insights into the dangers facing our shared history. One tool for raising awareness of these issues is the Culture in Crisis Podcast.

Season Two, Fighting the Illicit Trade, is comprised of interviews with international experts working to prevent the illegal trade of cultural heritage– each person fighting a battle to rescue cultural heritage at a different stage of its underground journey. The series examines the actions taken at the object’s source, through transit, and upon arrival at its destination. As stated by Culture in Crisis, “The theft and sale of cultural property robs communities of their past, present and future. It lines the pockets of international criminal networks and has been shown to directly finance terrorism. Through this series we hope to highlight valuable initiatives working to prevent the illicit trade and gather recommendations on how to build on these efforts in the future.”

Our founder, Leila A. Amineddoleh, is interviewed in Episode 7, “You’ve Gotta Have (Good) Faith.” She offers a legal perspective about heritage looting, discussing legal cases, provenance (including false provenances), good faith purchases, and the due diligence involved in purchasing antiquities. Read more about the series and listen to the informative interviews here.