A sword and cloak belonging to Ras Desta Damtew, a hero of Ethiopia's resistance against Italian occupation, were listed for auction in Italy
Ras Desta was a son-in-law of Emperor Haile Selassie and was executed by Italian forces in 1937, a war crime recognized by a UN commission. Yeshimebet Kassa, Ras Desta's granddaughter, expressed that auctioning these items is offensive and painful for the family. The Ethiopian Heritage Authority (EHA) requested the cancellation of the auction, claiming the items were looted during the Italian occupation (1935-1941). The auction house, Capitolium Art, cancelled the sale after receiving the EHA's letter but did not disclose the identity of the items' owner. This incident follows a previous auction of a medal belonging to Ras Desta, which also faced backlash but went ahead without a sale due to lack of bids. The article highlights the broader challenges Ethiopia faces in reclaiming looted artefacts, particularly from private collectors. Many Ethiopian artefacts remain in private hands or foreign museums, complicating restitution efforts. The situation reflects ongoing debates ...