An Irish woman Isabella Walsh is set to return her late father’s collection of 19th-century African and Aboriginal objects to their countries of origin.
Walsh, 39 who was inspired by the Guardian’s Article on the subject matter said she has contacted embassies and consulates in Dublin and London to repatriate 10 objects, including spears, harpoon heads and a shield, after she read about other cases in the newspaper.
According to her, the objects had belonged to her father, Larry Walsh, an archaeologist and curator of the Isabella Walsh, who had always cherished them due to his passionate interest in African and Aboriginal cultures.
Isabella, a model-maker and sculptor in the film industry, said: “It was one of my father’s final wishes that the artefacts be repatriated. He passed away 10 years ago and I’ve had them in storage since then. I didn’t really know where to begin. It’s taken me a long time to just process his passing and all the changes that have happened in my life … He was adamant that this was to happen.”
She added: “I appreciate and love the beauty of these objects and the craftsmanship … But they’re not culturally relevant to me.”
She had no idea how to repatriate the objects until she read a Guardian article in May about an American who had returned 30 antiquities to Italy. He in turn was inspired by another report about a man who sent back 19 antiquities to their countries of origin amid growing coverage of looted ancient artifacts.
Walsh wrote to Tsirogiannis: “I do not know how to go about this – any advice or assistance you can offer would be of great help.” Now, with his guidance, she is organising the return of artefacts to Sudan, South Sudan, South Africa and Australia.
In a letter to the South African authorities, for example, she wrote: “I am getting in contact regarding the return of several Zulu/South African historical artefacts to your country … It was one of my father’s final wishes that these artefacts be returned to their cultural origins, ideally to be housed in their respective national museums.”
The items include two Zulu clubs. Carved from a dark hardwood, these were designed as hunting weapons.
Mabet van Rensburg, counsellor political at the South African embassy in Dublin, wrote to her: “This is indeed a lovely gesture.”
Another wooden club or stick is an Aboriginal example that Walsh plans to return to Australia. It is similar to one in the British Museum, Tsirogiannis said.
