Egypt recovers ancient statue head linked to Thutmose III in deal with Netherlands
Egypt has recovered a rare stone statue head from the reign of Pharaoh Thutmose III, the Ministry of Tourism announced Friday, following a coordinated international effort with the Netherlands and Spain to combat the illicit trafficking of antiquities.
The granodiorite head, illegally smuggled out of Egypt, was returned to the Egyptian Embassy in The Hague after Dutch authorities seized it while it was being offered for sale at the TEFAF art fair in Maastricht in 2022.
The restitution follows a pledge by Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof during his visit to Cairo in November for the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum. There, he met President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and promised support for Egypt’s efforts to reclaim looted artefacts.
“This recovery reflects constructive cooperation between Egypt and the Netherlands, and a shared commitment to enforcing international conventions protecting cultural heritage,” Egypt’s Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathy, said. “The Egyptian state continues to prioritise the recovery of artefacts that left the country illegally and the preservation of its cultural identity, in coordination with international partners.”
The handover ceremony included senior Dutch officials and Spain’s ambassador to the Netherlands, highlighting Spain’s role in uncovering forged ownership documents tied to the statue.
Hisham El-Leithy, secretary-general of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities, described the recovery as part of a growing list of successful restitutions and said it underscores Egypt’s determination to safeguard its heritage through international collaboration. Shaaban Abdel Gawad, head of the administration for repatriated antiquities, noted that preliminary examinations date the piece to the New Kingdom period, specifically to Thutmose III’s reign, one of ancient Egypt’s most powerful pharaohs.
The Netherlands joined the 1970 UNESCO convention against illicit trade in cultural property in 2009, while Egypt ratified it in 1973. Both countries have stepped up cooperation under the framework in recent years as global scrutiny of the antiquities trade intensifies.
Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English