Sociedade de Geografia de Lisboa: not 1, but 76 Benin objects

Benin Digital mentions two objects in Portugal, one of which is in the Sociedade de Geografia de Lisboa. Sofia Lovegrove Pereira sends a podcast [ in Portuguese ], Reparacoes historicas - Preterito imperfeito (28 08 2023), which argues that the Sociedade has indeed one on display but another 76 in store.

At the end, the podcast makers address the restitution issue. They had asked permission to visit the 76 other Benin objects as well, but the Sociedade had not allowed them.

The Sociedade had told them that all 77 bronzes were a donation form a German collector in 1899, who had most like taken them from the 1897 loot.

Benin Digital has announced it will do further investigations.

RM* thanks for the contribution to this item