Zilkens'
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Zilkens' News Blog 47 2025

For almost 16 years, Silivia Zoerner was responsible for finance and projects at the BVDG office. She has now announced by email that she has not been working for the BVDG since November and is turning her attention to other tasks in the field of cultural and artistic promotion. We are all eager to find out what her new role will be.

In a wave of well-intentioned historical reparations, many European countries have handed over their collections of Benin bronzes, which they consider to be historically burdensome, to Nigeria or the no longer existing Kingdom of Benin – despite all the protests and warnings not to rush into anything. Only one country has held back in its generosity: France, which is normally at the forefront when it comes to symbolic politics. However, it is also a country with extensive experience in dealing with its African colonies. The Museum of West African Arts (MOWAA) is now set to open in Benin City, built with just under €22 million in financial support from countries willing to return artefacts, including Germany and the Netherlands in particular. We recall that the starting point was a British punitive expedition in 1897, during which countless cult and art objects were looted from the then Kingdom of Benin and subsequently distributed worldwide via the art market. The opening of the MOWAA was postponed indefinitely after a delegation of supporters was attacked by 20 people armed with sticks during a preview on 9 November, forcing them to flee into the museum and watch as the courtyard was vandalised by the attackers. Behind it all is probably a conflict between the Oba of Edo and the Nigerian government, which claims sovereignty over the bronzes. As a result, those who warned against a hasty return feel vindicated. The whole thing is quite sad – violence to enforce anything has no place in culture, and certainly not in the world – and that is precisely why we must significantly improve our defence readiness.

In one country, a museum did not even open, while in Damascus, the National Museum had to be closed after six ancient sculptures were stolen during a break-in. These items should not actually be marketable in the reputable art trade, but it is conceivable that, as with the Chinese porcelain currently disappearing from European museums, local forces are also playing an inglorious role in this case.

It is fitting that the VdS (the Association of Property Insurers) is offering a conference on ‘Security in Museums, Exhibition Halls and Archives’ in Berlin today and tomorrow for EUR 995.00. It is surprising that the speakers do not include any representatives of various insurance companies, with the exception of XL a Company of AXA, which is widely regarded as competent in matters of art insurance. In principle, however, it is to be welcomed that the topic is now being given greater prominence. The question is, however, whether the necessary budgets will be provided by the respective sponsors. In Cologne, they prefer to close the buildings under the pretext of necessary general renovation ...

It is nice, however, when travelling to see how other countries take even the youngest preschoolers to museums to help them overcome their fear of these institutions.

With this in mind: Make way for art!

Yours

Stephan Zilkens and the team at Zilkens Fine Art Insurance Broker GmbH in Solothurn and Cologne.