Questioning the Ethics of Art Acquisition: The Case of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and the Holy Tabots

Abstract

This paper explores the changing ideas around the legal acquisition of cultural artifacts, focusing on the Ethiopian Orthodox Church tabots taken during the 1868 Battle of Maqdala, now held in the British Museum. Taking art as wartime loot was widely accepted in the past, but today’s evolving sense of morality calls these practices into question. By examining the British Museum’s legal claims alongside the Ethiopian Church’s requests to return these sacred tabots, this study demonstrates that the tabots are unique artifacts that can circumvent existing legal barriers to restitution. Their repatriation would help amend historical injustices, promote cross-cultural and religious sensitivity, and set a precedent for more artifacts to be returned in the future. It challenges the rigid legal frameworks, like the British Museum Act, that still prevent restitution and considers shifting attitudes toward repatriation, inspired by groups such as the Scheherazade Foundation. Ultimately, this paper argues that as our understanding of legal acquisition changes, so should our readiness to address past injustices, emphasizing that returning them is not just a matter of law but a step toward restoring justice and respect for cultural heritage. Furthermore, the return of the tabots could serve as a global precedent, encouraging institutions to re-evaluate their collections and fostering a new era of ethical stewardship of cultural heritage.