Glasgow museums to repatriate artefacts to India

Glasgow’s museums will be the first in the UK to repatriate artefacts to India after Glasgow Life, the charity which manages the city’s museum collections, signed an agreement to return seven Indian antiquities.

Work on the repatriation of the artefacts began in January 2021 and was recently approved by Glasgow City Council’s City Administration Committee.

Dignitaries from the High Commission of India were welcomed for a transfer of ownership ceremony at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum last Friday (19 August).

The repatriation is part of a wider move by Glasgow Life Museums, which is also repatriating 19 Benin bronzes to Nigeria and 25 Lakota cultural items sold and donated to the city’s museum collection in 1892.

In June, the museums welcomed a delegation from Nigeria’s National Commission for Museums and Monuments to discuss the transfer of ownership of the artefacts and future dates for their return.

Duncan Dornan, Glasgow Life's Head of Museums and Collections, said the transfer of ownership “symbolises a significant step for Glasgow, with the city continuing its positive repatriation history by ensuring these cultural artefacts are placed back in the hands of their legitimate owners.”

“Credit must be given to the High Commission of India and British High Commission for their cooperation and support. We look forward to continuing our work with the Indian authorities to deliver the safe return of these artefacts,” he said.