The Wallace Collection sensationalises its Asante gold collection which it variously describes as ‘spectacular’, ‘fabulous’, ‘impressive’ ‘incredible’ without any modern academic credibility or innovative museum curation on show in support of these claims. Their dismal presentation is in stark contrast to what Xavier Bray, Director of the Wallace Collection is reported to have said about the work [1] We are keen to work with scholars and researchers in Ghana and internationally to develop OUR understanding of this incredible work of art for the benefit of all.’ (emphasis and capitals by the author) I question who he is referring to when he refers to ‘our’ , exactly who is included ? The Collection's visitors? Academics ? The Asante people ? Armour specialist ? All will be left questioning the Collection's description of this stolen golden horde. I question his use of the descriptor ‘art’ as they were not meant to be exhibition pieces in a collection on armoury these objects are revered as sacred and ceremonial. I have yet to see any evidence of the Wallace Collection being ‘keen to work with scholars and researchers’ to increase the scholarship around the pieces, quite the opposite in fact the little scholarship they have on the web to support the Asante gold is seen in the ‘Further Reading’ a lone reference to the 1914 catalogue Laking, Guy Francis, 'Wallace Collection Catalogue: Oriental Arms and Armour', London. Early twentieth century ‘Further Reading’ in stark contrast to the twenty-first century 'Further Reading' lists to support the other works the Wallace Collection classes as ‘collection highlights specifically Hal’s The Laughing Cavalier and Fragonard’s The Swing. There seems to be zero attempt to address any modern scholarship on the pieces as they had the opportunity to do this at the recent Richard Wallace 200 exhibition celebrating the 200th anniversary of the birth of the collector who brought the Asante gold into the collection. The head was fetishized by spot light in a darkened in a glass cabinet with no attendant scholarly presentations or talks to further 'our' understanding of the piece. Currently the works are lost in a series of glass cabinets all taller than the one containing the Asante Golden Head. No evidence of the head being ‘spectacular’, ‘fabulous’, ‘impressive’ ‘incredible’ quite the opposite it looks dilapidated, isolated ,and lost with a tired yellowing plaque next to the head in its case. And to the side an equally tired looking and much thumbed, worn out copy of the 1914 edition of 'Wallace Collection Catalogue: Oriental Arms and Armour' such was the age and appearance of the copy on display (see picture below) it looked like a museum piece rather than a guide to the works on display. The only change I’ve seen in the time I’ve been doing Image of the Black Tours of the Wallace Collection is that now the head is on a stand, previously it just lay forlornly on its side. It is not as if though they are not aware of the scholarship on the gold as the Wallace Collection's own library has an entire shelf devoted to the works as well as a large curatorial file full of revealing facts and history about the works. That file includes correspondence confirming for me that the head is indeed, that of an enemy, as Asantehene Prempeh II is quoted as saying ' It must be the head of an enemy as it was the custom to attach such trophy heads to the Golden Stool'. The knowledge in the library is not reflected in the display - in fact quite the opposite - the display looks as though their knowledge is restricted to those few lines from a 1914 catalogue on oriental arm and armoury. I urge the Wallace Collection as a minimum to 1. Better present the works if it really believes they are ‘spectacular’, ‘fabulous’, ‘impressive’ ‘incredible’ 2. Make manifest the modern scholarship on the work, it has the knowledge and the academic and museum connections In doing so present them in manner worthy of their heritage and meaning rather than having them both physically and historically lost in the gloom of its Arms and Armoury Gallery. The Great Gallery would be a most fitting place reflecting the importance of the work to the Collection. At the same time they should consider their position as recipients of stolen goods and consider returning these looted works to their rightful owners, the Asante people. We know exactly where they came from – Manhyia Palace, Kumasi - which is now a museum so the works have a ready-made home where they would be researched , cherished and celebrated by the people who rightfully own them – quite unlike in The Wallace Collection The Wallace would not be the first British Institution to return looted goods Manchester Museum was amongst the first when it returned sacred aboriginal objects stolen a century ago. More recently the British Government has returned a religious statue looted during the Falkland War and most recently (Nov ’29) Cambridge University has agreed to return a looted Benin Bronze stolen in 1897 to its home in Nigeria. So the precedent has been set for these looted goods – The Wallace Collection ‘s Asante Gold - to be returned to their rightful, lawful owners.....or at least display the Gold in a manner that reflects the Wallace Collection's Director belief that the Asante Gold is in deed 'incredible' and should be displayed for benefit of all. The Wallace Collection needs to do the right thing either display them better or better still return these stolen goods. [1] https://www.timeout.com/london/news/should-london-museums-give-back-their-disputed-objects-081418 (accessed 29th Nov '19)
Sample Further Reading: Prof Edward S. Ayensu (1998) Ashanti Gold Marshall Editions Fagg, William. ‘Ashanti Gold’. The Connoisseur 185, no. 743 (January 1974): 41-48. Web https://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/contested-asante-trophy-head-to-shine-in-new-wallace-room https://www.modernghana.com/news/871280/looted-asante-ghana-gold-in-wallace-collection.html
5 Comments
4/14/2022 07:36:50 pm
Excellent article! Your post is essential today. Thanks for sharing, by the way.
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Frank Docherty
11/15/2022 02:47:30 am
Stolen my arse. These items were bought From an auction house. or private collector. The Wallace collection stole nothing. Instead of trying to accuse this great museum, if you really want to make a difference go after the people who actually stole them, not a museum who bought them fare and square.
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12/20/2022 07:03:27 pm
İnstagram takipçi satın almak istiyorsan tıkla.
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DR.KWAME OPOKU
12/21/2022 12:12:27 pm
IT IS WELL ESTABLISHED THAT THESE ASANTE GOLD TREASURES WERE LOOTED BY THE BRITISH ARMY IN 1874 FROM MANSYIA KUMASE. THEY SHOULD BE RETURNED TO THE ASNATE KING,ASANTEHENE OTUMFUO OSEI TUTU II.
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