Hallo Michelle,
If I have understood your request correctly, it is not about repatriation of objects, but about a temporary loan to the community of origin for an unspecified rite. Actually, it seems to me that you do not need a particularly fixed policy for this case, because it can be treated as any other temporary loan (to other museums or the previous owner/collector): It must be ensured that the object (in the same condition as before) afterwards reaches your museum again and, should it be restored after the rite, that the costs of restoration are borne by the borrower. It also needs to be clarified what the security of the object looks like during the absence of the museum, who covers the cost of the courier trips, etc.
The main
problem seems to be that your contractor is not a museum bound
to museum principles. Using a museum object for a rite, means:
it can be treated, during the rite, not as a museum object. It
may be touched with fingers (while you use gloves), it gets
contact with smoke and other stuff avoided by your museum. It
may be carried around, kissed or sprinckled with holy liquids
etc.
On the other hand, for an object of ethnic
context, it is just the "use in real life" which makes it
authentic. An object made for the tourist market (or for
museums...) will never reach this level of authenticity.
Therefore, maybe, this loan could enhance your object with a
higher grade of authenticity.
Who is the borrower? A private person? The
community of origin? The borrower must
be able to bear any recourse claims that may arise. In some
cases, he should
also have been commissioned or elected by the community and
can prove this. Just
an assertion to represent the interests of a community is not
enough,
especially not in the repatriation of objects.
Moreover, we always regard
communities of origin as a single entity. But this is a
romantic auxiliary
construction which does not take into account the western
influences. Some
native communities for example are spread today over several
continents. There are members of these communities who do not
identify with the old faith, there are
those who honor the old culture and others who do not know it
anymore. As in
real life, not every "representative" is recognized by every
member
of a community.
Hope this helps
Christian
[log in to unmask]">Hello All,
Does anyone have a policy they would be willing to share regarding museums lending accessioned objects back to the community of origin for use? This would must likely be for ceremonial and/or ritual use.
Any articles or papers on this topic would also be greatly appreciated.
Thank you,Michelle
Michelle Gallagher RobertsDeputy DirectorNew Mexico Museum of Art
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