The story of the mask called Ka-nefer-nefer in the St. Louis Art Museum appears to be shifting in favour of Cairo, as the mask is clearly the same one excavated and shown in excavation photos from the early 1950s.
Lawyers for the museum are trying everything they can to resolve the situation in the best interest of the museum. However, the argument of statutes of limitations, although it admits the masks' correct provenance, still rewards the museum because it took too long to discover the crime.
Not likely to happen with the American authorities now involved, and the St. Louis Art Museum should expect a visit in the future to hand over the mask. St. Louis' lawyers might spend their time better by suing the art dealer they bought the mask from.
The issue at present appears to be based on what kind of "contraband" the mask is, and what laws apply. St Louis' position gets weaker and weaker. The St. Louis Art Museum admits the masks' provenance; please go to their site to see the masks' provenance according to St. Louis' acquisition.
Here is the background information on the mask: The Battle for Ka-nefer-nefer
Source of update: Looting Matters
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