In a formal ceremony attended by the Georgian Ministry of Culture, the Cleveland Museum of Art has returned an 11th-century gold and cloisonné enamel reliquary to the Republic of Georgia. The artifact, which had been in the museum's collection since the 1960s, was recently identified as having been looted from a monastery during the regional upheavals of the early 20th century.
The reliquary is a masterpiece of Bagratid-era craftsmanship, featuring intricate depictions of the life of Saint George. Georgian authorities have announced that the piece will be the centerpiece of a new exhibit at the National Museum in Tbilisi, dedicated to the golden age of medieval Georgian metallurgy and religious art.