“We are strongly opposed to the proposed sale”, says Ann Benbow, the executive director of the AIA, in an email to The Art Newspaper. “If [it] goes forward, it will tarnish the long-standing reputation of the AIA, which has a strong stance against the sale of antiquities… Archaeological artifacts should be cared for and made available for educational purposes, not put up for auction.” 

Benbow adds that the AIA has “formally asked the St Louis Society not to go forward with the sale and are awaiting their response”. Bonhams describes the artefacts as “masterpieces of ancient Egyptian art”, dated to around 1897-1878BC, that were found in a tomb at Harageh in AD1913-14; they the St Louis Society acquired the works that same year in return for providing funds for the excavation. The collection includes a unique silver bee, inlaid with semiprecious stones; fourteen sea shells mounted in silver; five travertine objects, including a “cosmetic spoon” with an ankh-shaped handle; seven silver cowries; and ten pieces of silver jewellery. Since 2001, the artefacts had been in storage at Washington University, but plans to redisplay them had been discussed as recently as 2013.

The works all carry a clear provenance, and the sale does not violate the St Louis Society’s charter with the AIA, which prohibits the trade of undocumented antiquities. However, similar sales of antiquities have met with criticism, such as the Northampton Museum’s deaccession of a statue of Sekhemka in July, which led to the museum being stripped of its Art Council accreditation. The AIA has not decided on a specific action to take against the St Louis Society should the proposed sale go ahead, but it is “exploring all possible options”, Benbow says. The St Louis Society could not be reached for comment.