The Metropolitan Museum of Art has returned a seventh-century B.C.E. bronze griffin head to Greece after internal research confirmed it was stolen from the Archaeological Museum of Olympia in the 1930s.
The artifact, discovered in 1914 in the Kladeos River, was housed in Olympia’s museum before it disappeared. It resurfaced in 1948 at New York’s Joseph Brummer Gallery and was later donated to the Met in 1972 by former trustee Walter C. Baker. A review of records revealed it had been illegally removed, prompting its restitution.
At a ceremony in New York, Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni officially received the artifact from Met Director Max Hollein. Under an agreement, the griffin head will return to the Met for an exhibition next year. Mendoni praised the museum’s efforts in provenance research and its commitment to cultural heritage.
The Met has faced growing scrutiny over the origins of its collection. Last year, it expanded its provenance research team, appointing Lucian Simmons, Sotheby’s former restitution head, to lead efforts.
During her visit, Mendoni also discussed cultural heritage protections with U.S. officials and oversaw the return of an ancient Greek lekythos from Pennsylvania’s Glencairn Museum. Additionally, talks are ongoing for a major Greek antiquities exhibition linked to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
The U.S. and Greece are also negotiating the renewal of a 2011 agreement to combat antiquities trafficking, set to expire in 2026.
Sources: smithsonianmag, artnews.com
