A 1917–18 watercolor self-portrait by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner has been restituted to the heirs of Ludwig & Rosy Fischer, persecuted by the Nazis. The family donated it to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, joining the Fischer Collection. 🔗 buff.ly/1tDErQX

Heirs of Hedwig & Frederick Stern are suing the Met and a Greek foundation over Van Gogh’s Olive Picking, sold after the family fled Nazi Germany. They say the Met should’ve known its Nazi-tainted past. The Met denies wrongdoing. 🔗 buff.ly/vngtMMO

In a historic move, Boston’s MFA has returned two 1857 ceramic jars by enslaved potter David Drake to his descendants—the first U.S. restitution of art made under slavery. The deal, modeled on Nazi-loot cases, could set a major precedent. 🔗 buff.ly/3AMPGJr

A guerrilla AR show, Encoded, by Amplifier, inserts works by 17 Indigenous artists into NYC’s Met, remixing classics like Washington Crossing the Delaware through Native perspectives. It challenges erasure and calls for visibility in colonial museum spaces. 🔗 buff.ly/DBfgByC

The return of the Benin bronzes shows how restitution can spark new disputes. In Nigeria, rival claims between the government, Edo State, and the Oba of Benin have left many artefacts in limbo—while replicas fill museum displays. Moral returns rarely end cleanly. 🔗 buff.ly/SCKsdPw

The The National Gallery of Victoria returned Gerard ter Borch’s "Lady with a Fan" to heirs of a Jewish family looted during the Nazi era-but only after the update appeared in Germany’s Lost Art Database. Researcher Schulman praised the restitution & criticized the museum’s secrecy buff.ly/aihDSTW

ICYMI: France will return the Djidji Ayôkwé, a sacred talking drum taken from Côte d’Ivoire in 1916, to the Ebrié people. Once a unifying voice, its repatriation is seen as a step toward healing and national unity. buff.ly/kjBMJk8

A long-lost Stradivarius, stolen from the Mendelssohn-Bohnke family in WWII, has resurfaced after 80 years. Experts say the “Stella” violin is the same one; its current owner disputes the claim. For the family, it’s more than priceless—it’s identity.https://buff.ly/yvw0aRX

Cultural heritage isn’t just about the past—it sustains identity and resilience in war, disaster, and displacement. As Morag M. Kersel notes, attacks on heritage, like in Ukraine, are attacks on communities themselves. buff.ly/B0qEnKx

Germany will launch a new Arbitration Court for Nazi-looted art in Dec 2025, replacing the current advisory panel. The tribunal will issue binding rulings and ease evidence rules to aid restitution. Some groups hail it as progress—others voice concern. buff.ly/iOf0bxm

Leaders of Ecuador’s Shuar community are renewing calls for Oxford’s Pitt Rivers Museum to return its tsantsas (shrunken heads), collected 1884-1936. Removed from display in 2020, the items remain at the center of ongoing repatriation talks buff.ly/qKyunZR

An Ohio auction house stopped the sale of two 17th-century paintings after a tip linked them to Jewish collector Adolphe Schloss, whose art was looted by the Nazis. The Monuments Men and Women Foundation is now helping return the works to Schloss’s heirs. Read more: buff.ly/bUTkKUM

Student Assistant Isabelle Monyak examines the 2024 NAGPRA updates and their impact on museums—from closing loopholes to shifting the burden of proof. The changes mark progress but raise new challenges. Read full blog in bio. Photo: U.S. National Park Service

A new report says U.S. museums aren’t doing enough to make info on Nazi-looted art public. After a key database closed in 2024, only ~10,600 works are still searchable. The group urges renewed transparency and adherence to the 1998 Washington Principles buff.ly/LksQcVX

NYC Mayor Eric Adams and the World Jewish Restitution Organization are urging museums to back the 2025 HEAR Act, after reports some, including the Met, opposed it. The bill would extend Nazi-looted art claims beyond 2026, but museum directors warn it could spark more lawsuits. buff.ly/DvXal14

New report from the Holocaust Art Recovery Initiative exposes Hungary’s 1944 state-run plunder of Jewish cultural property. Based on 90,000 pages of records, it traces stolen art into museums and calls for restitution. Read full story: buff.ly/Q2Ra17a

Heirs of Jewish banker Paul von Mendelssohn-Bartholdy appeal a U.S. court ruling that dismissed their claim to Van Gogh’s 'Sunflowers' ($250M), now owned by Japan’s Sompo. They say it was sold under Nazi duress; Sompo argues the sale was voluntary. Court ruling pending buff.ly/oM0R82y

The Belgian House of Representatives has returned Friedrich Nerly’s "Basilica SS Giovanni e Paolo in Venice" to the Stiftung Preußischer Kulturbesitz after research revealed it had gone missing from Berlin during World War II. buff.ly/Awijmco

In Peru, the new ICOM museum definition has been translated into Quechua, Aymara & Amazonian languages, reaching communities where “museum” has no direct meaning. Shared via brochures, it sparks dialogue on heritage & identity and as praised as a model for inclusive memory. buff.ly/XOvsQFc

France has returned the skulls of 3 Sakalava leaders, possibly King Toera, executed in the 1897 conquest of Madagascar. The first repatriation under a new French law was hailed as historical justice. The skulls will tour Madagascar before burial in Bora Read full story: buff.ly/nL0N9qh

Bénédicte Savoy, a prominent voice in the movement to repatriate African art, has been appointed the next “Chaire du Louvre” at the Louvre Museum - a decision that underscores France’s shifting stance on the restitution of artworks taken during the colonial period. Read story: buff.ly/eO03qOJ.

A stolen 16th-century colonial manuscript was returned to Paraguay after resurfacing in NYC. Traced by the DA’s Antiquities Unit, the case underscores the need for provenance transparency. buff.ly/nkWMrwt

The Met is returning three Mesopotamian artifacts to Iraq, tied to trafficker Robin Symes. Valued at $500K, the repatriation reflects ethical collecting and efforts to preserve Iraq’s heritage. buff.ly/XLEozbl

Oklahoma’s Sam Noble and Gilcrease Museums are advancing NAGPRA efforts, working to return 1,600+ ancestors and items. Updated rules and tribal collaboration guide repatriation and ongoing consultations. buff.ly/ALvcmG4

South Korea’s “Unlock Korea’s Treasures” tour invites foreign creators to explore UNESCO sites from June–Nov, promoting cultural heritage through immersive visits and shared online content. buff.ly/2TytR52

The new Santa Ynez Chumash Museum in California immerses visitors in Chumash culture with native gardens, Samala-English exhibits, traditional structures, and artifacts in a sustainable setting. buff.ly/71ZlKxo

The Getty Provenance Index relaunched with 12M+ records from the 16th century on, aiding art ownership research. New tool "Tracing Art" maps networks of artworks, collectors, and institutions. buff.ly/emFArnb

What an excellent week of learning in our 2025 #provenance research training program! Thank you to the program leaders, speakers, students, and the Art Ashes Foundation. Together, we're helping to shape more ethical practices in the art market, libraries, museums, and other cultural institutions.

The AMC praised the Manitoba Museum’s apology and 2022 "Homeward Journey" project to repatriate Indigenous remains, calling it a key step toward truth, reconciliation, and cultural healing. buff.ly/W3De4xk

Our certificate students did excellent work on their case study presentations. We appreciate your attention to detail, enthusiasm for learning, and willingness to engage with #provenance research on a deep level.

Many thanks to Dr. Patty Gerstenblith @pgerstenblith.bsky.social for a fantastic keynote address on why we should care about #provenance, and the legal and ethical dimensions of the acquisition of artworks and antiquities.

Thank you, Mac Coyle, #Provenance Research Fellow at the Denver Art Museum, for sharing your work! ACE certificate students enjoyed learning about the Masuda collection and exploring the museum.

In today's program, Renée Albiston, #Provenance Researcher and Head of Provenance Research Department at the Denver Art Museum guided program students through writing a provenance narrative. Yes, punctuation matters!

Anne Dunn-Vaturi, Daniel Healey, Carlee S. Forbes and James Ratcliffe presented perspectives from the field on #provenance research and locating lost art.

#Provenance Research Today: Attorney Leila Amineddoleh discussed antiquities, provenance, and repatriation from a legal perspective. Judith Barr provided an overview of research resources. Eric Hormell and Andrew D. Turner guided students through exceptional resources at the Getty Research Institute

#Provenance Research Today, on Nazi-era disputed art: On Tuesday, Antonia Bartoli shared her expertise on resources used in provenance research and attorney, Kate Aufses, explained current legal trends in the U.S. and Europe.

Thank you Laura Elliff Cruz and the Clamaints' Panel: Deadria Farmer-Paellmann, Till Vere-Hodge, Kim Pasqual-Charlie, Anna B. Rubin, for discussions on ethical stewardship of Native American items, and perspectives from those working to receive items on behalf of their communities and individuals.

Our 2025 certificate students have arrived and our #provenance research training program is off to a great start! ACE Director, Elizabeth Campbell, welcomed students and provided an overview of topics we're examining this week with our lineup of expert speakers.

Registration ends today! Register to attend #Provenance Research Today: Issues, Resources and Networks by Wednesday, June 18 at 5 PM MDT. Scheduling conflict? Recordings are available for one year. Register at buff.ly/wHXhGq2

Joel Tan’s “Scenes from a Repatriation” follows the return of a looted 12th‑century Chinese statue to explore the moral, political, and cultural complexities of restitution. buff.ly/DggGOYf

Closing soon! Register to attend #Provenance Research Today: Issues, Resources and Networks by June 18 at 5 PM MDT at buff.ly/wHXhGq2. Recordings available. Learn from experts: Antonia Bartoli, Renée Albiston, Elizabeth Campbell, Patty Gerstenbllith, Elizabeth Marlowe, Christina Kreps, and more!

Registrants can stream Thursday's presentation by Mac Coyle, Provenance Research Fellow at the Denver Art Museum! He will present "Looking Out Looking In: Legacies of the Masuda Collection." This session is available free of charge. Registration is required to access the livestream and recording.

ACE has a new blog post from Graduate Student Assistant, Isabelle Monyak! See her review of the important documentary, Dahomey (2024) directed by Mati Diop, on the repatriation of African items from France to the Republic of Benin. Read full blog: buff.ly/kad9aZf

Learn about antiquities and archaeological objects, global Indigenous items, restitution trends, and writing a provenance narrative from Renée Albiston, Randy Deaton, Anne Dunn-Vaturi, Carlee S. Forbes, Daniel Healey, Christina Kreps, Elizabeth Marlowe, James Ratcliffe, and schuhmacher.bsky.social

Libya has secured the return of a looted Ptolemaic-era statue from the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it had been displayed for decades. The 3rd-century artifact, taken during World War II, was repatriated following a campaign, confirming Libya's rightful ownership. buff.ly/pPPMdbz

Learn about methods and resources for provenance research on Nazi Era items and antiquities and archaeological property. Speakers on Tuesday, June 24 include Leila Amineddoleh, Kate Aufses, Judith Barr @jebarr.bsky.social‬ , Antonia Bartoli, Eric Hormell, Sally McKay, and Andrew Turner. Join us!

Holocaust museums are shifting their focus from graphic imagery to emphasizing the personal experiences and identities of victims. This seeks to move beyond portraying victims as faceless figures, instead shedding light on their lives and the moral responsibilities of perpetrators. buff.ly/VuuI8Ae

Learn about recent history of provenance research and restitution, Native American cultural heritage, and get an introduction to research resources and methods. Mondays speakers include Anna Rubin @abr-hcpo , Laura Elliff Cruz, Kim Pasqual-Charlie, Deadria Farmer-Paellman, and Till Vere-Hodge.

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art appointed Nancy Karrels as Associate Director of Provenance, and Negin Sharifzadeh as Associate Director of Global Affairs. Karrels will enhance transparency in collections, and Sharifzadeh will expand international collaborations buff.ly/S07B5Pw

The Bührle Foundation has settled with Max Silberberg’s heirs over Manet’s La Sultane, sold under Nazi duress. Though the Foundation disputes this, the painting stays at Zurich’s Kunsthaus. The case renews debate over forced sales and ethics of exhibiting contested art. buff.ly/ECNIEyz