The Victoria and Albert Museum in London will return to Turkey a marble head of the Greek god Eros that was separated from a 3rd century AD sarcophagus. The move resolves a struggle to restore the object that has been going on for nearly a century.
Victoria and Albert described the artifact’s return as a “cultural partnership” with the Turkish government agency that oversees culture and tourism. The loan agreement, which is set to run for six years, recognizes the joint ownership between the Turkish government and the UK Museum, which is run by the state.
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Charles Wilson, a British military official, took Eros’ part in 1882 during his time in Anatolia, when he discovered a Roman sarcophagus in the central Turkish province of Kerman. Wilson later loaned the head to the Victoria and Albert Museum, which was later known as the South Kensington Museum. It was donated to the Museum in 1933 after his death.
Victoria and Albert discussed returning the head to Turkey in exchange for Byzantine artifacts. The museum’s then director, Eric McLagan, publicly expressed concern about the potential repercussions of this redemption deal on other artifacts held in British museums.
In 1934, the UK government allowed the marble head to be returned to Turkey. To find out if the marble head was indeed from the original sarcophagus, Victoria and Albert initially provided a replica of the plaster cast to experts in Turkey. The marble head continued to be kept in storage in London until the late 20th century.
In 2005, talks about the statue’s return resurfaced when the Turkish government called for the original artifact to be finally restored. Paul Williamson, curator of the Victoria and Albert Museum, said the museum is ready to return the head to Turkey on long-term loan. Negotiations were renewed again in 2010.
As part of this arrangement, restorers have since reattached the head to the Sidamara sarcophagus that was taken from it more than a century ago. The monument is now on display in the Istanbul Archaeological Museum.
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