- Title: Neglected Igbo-Ukwu bronzes get new life at Nigerian museum
- Date: 17th May 2023
- Summary: LAGOS, NIGERIA (MAY 10, 2023) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF ART CONSERVATOR CLEANING AN IGBO-UKWU SNAIL SHELL TIME-LAPSE OF ART CONSERVATORS CLEANING IGBO-UKWU PIECES HAND CLEANING AN IGBO-UKWU BOWL HAND CLEANING AN IGBO-UKWU VASE LAGOS, NIGERIA (RECENT - MARCH 22, 2023) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF HEAD OF CONSERVATION UNIT AT NATIONAL MUSEUM, ADENIKE NIYI-DARE, AND CURATOR, NATIONAL MUSE
- Embargoed: 31st May 2023 08:58
- Keywords: Art Artefacts Benin Bronze Conservation Igbo-Ukwu Museum Nigeria Patina Restitution Restoration
- Location: LAGOS, NIGERIA
- City: LAGOS, NIGERIA
- Country: Nigeria
- Topics: Africa,Arts/Culture/Entertainment
- Reuters ID: LVA001286016052023RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: At the National Museum in Lagos, workers carefully remove rust and patina from Igbo-Ukwu Bronze artefacts, part of restoration work on some of Nigeria's oldest but lesser known collections.
The Igbo-Ukwu, which date back to the 9th century according to the museum, were discovered in 1939 in southeastern Anambra state, part of the region inhabited by the Igbo people.
Some of the artefacts include intricately designed bowls, pots, vases and shells.
‘’The Igbo-Ukwu objects, they are alloys of copper, brass and lead, so they are very susceptible to corrosion. The main purpose for restoration work is to stabilize bronze objects against corrosion," said Adenike Niyi-Dare, head of the museum's conservation unit.
Their restoration comes at a time when there is uncertainty about the return of thousands of the more famous Benin Bronzes from museums and collectors abroad.
In March, President Muhammadu Buhari decreed that all returned Benin Bronzes that were looted from the ancient Benin kingdom should be in the custody of a royal ruler in modern day Benin city, southwestern Nigeria.
That led a British university to the return of more than 100 artefacts.
At the museum in Lagos, curator Omotayo Adeboye said she considered the Igbo-Ukwu "masterpieces of creativity and indigenous craftsmanship."
"The main challenge we have in the museum is having a standard conservation laboratory with modern equipment for conservation," added Niyi-Dare.
Bank of America has provided a grant for the restoration of the artefacts, Niyi-Dare said.
The National Museum has a collection of 200 Igbo-Ukwu pieces and more are housed in other local museums.
(Production: Seun Sanni, Angela Ukomadu) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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