Northampton faces legal challenge over Egyptian collections
Marquis of Northampton claims ownership of Sekhemka statue
Northampton Borough Council (NBC) is facing a legal challenge from Spencer Compton, the 7th Marquess of Northampton, over the ownership of its Egyptian and geological collections, which include a statue of Sekhemka dating from 2400 BC.
Compton has requested that the council return the collections, including the statue, to him, under the terms of a deed of gift, signed by Northampton’s town clerk and the 4th Marquis in 1880.
Museums Journal understands the council is disputing whether the statue of Sekhemka, which it is looking to sell, is included in the deed, as it is not mentioned specifically.
The deed, which has been seen by Museums Journal, covers the geological collections and Egyptian antiquities. It states: “The corporation covenant with the Marquis… assigns at all times for ever hereafter to exhibit the same collection freely to the public… and at no time to dispose of any part of the collections…
“…in default whereof at any time the said collection shall revert and be restored to the Marquis his heirs… in as good condition as it was received.”
Ruth Thomas, a former registrar at Northampton Museum, who has also seen the document, said: “You didn’t need to be a lawyer to understand it. The deed of gift is a way of ensuring the collections were for the people of Northampton in perpetuity.”
An NBC spokesman said: “We still wish to sell the statue of Sekhemka and are working with Arts Council England to achieve an ethical disposal.”
Meanwhile, cuts to the Northampton Museum’s budget will see the post of collections officer merge with that of museum development officer, while the roles of museum manager, senior education officer, education officer, and development officer will work from offices in the Guildhall rather than being based at the museum.
The NBC spokesman declined to confirm or deny the staffing changes, saying only: “We are committed to the future development of our museums and their staffing is a matter for us.”
To download a copy of the deed of gift, click here (pdf)
Update
05.06.2013
An arts council spokesman issued this clarification: "In relation to the quote by Northampton Council about the arts council and the disposal of the statue of Sekhemka we wish to clarify that we are in discussion with Northampton Council officers regarding Accreditation compliance in relation to the proposed sale.
"Decisions regarding the ethics of such decisions are the remit of the Museums Association's Ethics Committee."
Compton has requested that the council return the collections, including the statue, to him, under the terms of a deed of gift, signed by Northampton’s town clerk and the 4th Marquis in 1880.
Museums Journal understands the council is disputing whether the statue of Sekhemka, which it is looking to sell, is included in the deed, as it is not mentioned specifically.
The deed, which has been seen by Museums Journal, covers the geological collections and Egyptian antiquities. It states: “The corporation covenant with the Marquis… assigns at all times for ever hereafter to exhibit the same collection freely to the public… and at no time to dispose of any part of the collections…
“…in default whereof at any time the said collection shall revert and be restored to the Marquis his heirs… in as good condition as it was received.”
Ruth Thomas, a former registrar at Northampton Museum, who has also seen the document, said: “You didn’t need to be a lawyer to understand it. The deed of gift is a way of ensuring the collections were for the people of Northampton in perpetuity.”
An NBC spokesman said: “We still wish to sell the statue of Sekhemka and are working with Arts Council England to achieve an ethical disposal.”
Meanwhile, cuts to the Northampton Museum’s budget will see the post of collections officer merge with that of museum development officer, while the roles of museum manager, senior education officer, education officer, and development officer will work from offices in the Guildhall rather than being based at the museum.
The NBC spokesman declined to confirm or deny the staffing changes, saying only: “We are committed to the future development of our museums and their staffing is a matter for us.”
To download a copy of the deed of gift, click here (pdf)
Update
05.06.2013
An arts council spokesman issued this clarification: "In relation to the quote by Northampton Council about the arts council and the disposal of the statue of Sekhemka we wish to clarify that we are in discussion with Northampton Council officers regarding Accreditation compliance in relation to the proposed sale.
"Decisions regarding the ethics of such decisions are the remit of the Museums Association's Ethics Committee."