Lot 68: ‎€7,000

August 8, 2020 12:07 PM

According to Acoma law, [the shields] were collectively owned; they could not leave the pueblo, nor could they be sold or destroyed. They were considered living beings rather than works of art. [...] One day in the early 1970s, the shield and five others vanished from the caretaker’s home.

Finding and returning one of the stolen ceremonial shields of the Pueblo of Acoma, New Mexico.
posted by Rumple (8 comments total)

Such a moving story! Am glad it was finally returned home.
posted by leslies at 2:10 PM on August 8, 2020

Wonderful piece. Glad it came home.
posted by dorothyisunderwood at 6:17 PM on August 8, 2020

This was so well-written, and really gave you a feel for the complexity of the story. And a sobering glimpse into how many various Indigenous cultural items are still bought and sold by whites.
posted by emjaybee at 6:20 PM on August 8, 2020 [1 favorite]

I grew up in southern NM, went to an elementary school that was minority white (majority latino or local tribal communities), and in junior high I had a mesmerizing history teacher, Mr. Alba. He taught New Mexico history. We had a history textbook which I haven't seen in decades but which if memory serves was written very much from the colonizer's point of view. He, however, delivered passionate hour long lectures giving the point of view of the indigenous peoples of New Mexico.

I specifically remember his telling of the Acoma Pueblo rebellion from the point of view of the natives and his describing the entire circumstances of it. And this is a story from, like, 1600 or so. It was utterly thrilling.

Along with many of my other teachers growing up all along the way entirely through high school, I was raised with a bit of an understanding of this culture that isn't mine, but that I sort of grew up mixing with and being taught about.

This article was a thrilling read. It really contains depth and texture that I wasn't expecting, and I really appreciated reading it. I feel so good that they got the shield back. I hope this sets precedent for future such cases!
posted by hippybear at 9:45 PM on August 8, 2020 [12 favorites]

This seems like more than having a sacred relic returned. This is like being reconnected to lost family.

It's horrible that more hasn't been done to change these auctions and the law. Also it's appalling that EVE, the Paris auction house, wanted feathers added to the item so it would sell better.

There isn't a petition (that I can find) on the STOP act or on federal efforts to aid in bringing home similar items from outside the US, but I'm going to contact my congressional representatives in support of both, as well as look into relevant laws in my state.
posted by gryftir at 3:09 AM on August 9, 2020 [2 favorites]

EVE told him they wanted feathers on it, so before he shipped it to France, he had turkey feathers dyed to look like eagles’ and wove them into the shield himself.

Cripes. Private antiquities and sacred object collectors aren't just evil. . . they always seem to be unbelievably stupid as well. It's long past the time when displaying this stuff should make one a social outcast. (Not that museums are much better - I'm told by friends who study this professionally that there are as many laughable fakes as looted grave goods on display in most places. Which one is better is a harder question to answer.)

But, a well written article with a happy ending is great. Even if it took five decades and thousands of person-hours to do what is obviously right.
posted by eotvos at 6:29 AM on August 9, 2020 [1 favorite]

Such a good article. Really emphasized how difficult these issues are to resolve, even when the solution seems obvious.
posted by suelac at 9:59 PM on August 9, 2020 [1 favorite]

Wow. I actually cried reading this.
posted by exceptinsects at 3:25 PM on August 12, 2020 [1 favorite]