In a historic restitution ceremony held in Stuttgart, the Linden Museum has formally returned a magnificent 18th-century beaded throne to a delegation from the Republic of Benin. The throne, adorned with thousands of tiny glass beads depicting royal motifs, was originally taken during the French colonial conquest of the Kingdom of Dahomey. It is considered a sacred object of immense historical value, serving as a primary symbol of authority for the Dahomey monarchs.
The repatriation is part of a broader German initiative to address colonial-era provenance and return items of significant cultural and spiritual importance to their nations of origin. Officials from Benin’s Ministry of Culture stated that the throne will be housed in the Museum of the Epic of the Amazon and the Kings of Dahomey in Abomey. This return follows years of provenance research and collaborative dialogue between German curators and Beninese heritage experts, marking a significant milestone in international cultural diplomacy.