This statue of Sekhemka and his wife from the Old Kingdom's 5th Dynasty 2300 B.C. was a gift from a sultan at the end of the 18th century. The statue has been the museums centerpiece since 1849, certainly the sale of this piece is significant as Northampton will never get another one.
Egypt's antiquities service made its efforts in retrieving it but with no argument the most they can hope for is that they bought it or that it will be gifted to them. Now that the statue has been sold for L16 million the non-issue of the responsibilities of museums should die down.
Museums are about making money and then learning, you have to pay for the books. True the city of Northampton have sold off a treasure but hey L16 million, departing has never been so sweet.
Notes:
Al Ahram
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