Ethnologisches Museum

Please note: From Monday, 5 May up to and including Wednesday, 7 May and from Monday, 12 May up to and including Friday, 16 May 2025, the exhibition areas of the Ethnologisches Museum on the 2nd floor of the Humboldt Forum will be closed due to maintenance work. The exhibition areas will be open from Thursday, 8 May up to and including Sunday, 11 May 2025.

Ethnologisches Museum

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Yessie Mosby bei der Gedenkfeier mit Angehörigen der australischen Ugaram Le
Yessie Mosby bei der Gedenkfeier mit Angehörigen der australischen Ugaram Le © SPK/ Felix Zahn/photothek.de
In a formal handover ceremony, 22 Benin bronzes that were repatriated from Germany arrived in Nigeria, where they were presented to the public
In a formal handover ceremony, 22 Benin bronzes that were repatriated from Germany arrived in Nigeria, where they were presented to the public © Photothek / Florian Gaertner
The royal stool of Oba Esigie, made between 1735 and 1737, is packed for its journey to Nigeria
The royal stool of Oba Esigie, made between 1735 and 1737, is packed for its journey to Nigeria © SPK/photothek/Thomas Koehler
Ceremony for the handover of the Toi moko from the Ethnologisches Museum of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin to New Zealand
Ceremony for the handover of the Toi moko from the Ethnologisches Museum of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin to New Zealand © SPK / photothek.net / Florian Gärtner
Hermann Parzinger, president of the Stiftung Preussischer Kulturbesitz, and John Johnson, vice president of the Alaska Chugach Corporation, at the handover of the burial objects
Hermann Parzinger, president of the Stiftung Preussischer Kulturbesitz, and John Johnson, vice president of the Alaska Chugach Corporation, at the handover of the burial objects © SPK/photothek.net/Felix Zahn
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Restitutions

Large sections of the material and immaterial collections sourced from all over the world that are currently kept in the holdings of the Ethnologisches Museum were amassed within the context of colonialism. In recent years, the Stiftung Preussischer Kulturbesitz has restituted a number of objects from the Ethnologisches Museum to their respective countries of origin.

Chinese Decorative Ridge Turret

© Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Ethnologisches Museum / Claudia Obrocki, I D 45823

News: Chinese Decorative Ridge Turret Restituted to the Descendants of Eduard Fuchs (06.12.2024)

Human Remains

© SPK/ Felix Zahn/photothek.de

News: Human Remains from the Collection of the Ethnologisches Museum Repatriated to Australia (05.12.2024)

Ritual Objects

© Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Ethnologisches Museum / Claudia Obrocki

News: Ethnologisches Museum intensifies cooperation with Colombia (30.10.2024)

Kogi Masks

The wooden masks being prepared for transportation by conservator-restorer Kai-Patricia Engelhardt
The wooden masks being prepared for transportation by conservator-restorer Kai-Patricia Engelhardt © SPK / Photo: Xander Heinl/photothek.de

News: Restitution of Kogi Masks from the Ethnologisches Museum (19.06.2023)

Benin Bronzes

King with two accompanying figures, detail, relief panel, brass, Nigeria, 16th century/ownership transferred to Nigeria on 25 August 2022, to be featured on loan in the Benin exhibition at the Ethnologisches Museum.
King with two accompanying figures, detail, relief panel, brass, Nigeria, 16th century/ownership transferred to Nigeria on 25 August 2022, to be featured on loan in the Benin exhibition at the Ethnologisches Museum. © Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Ethnologisches Museum / Jörg von Bruchhausen

News: Return of Benin Bronzes from the Ethnologisches Museum: Artefacts Now in Nigerian Hands (25.08.2022)

Toi moko

The ceremony at the Ethnologisches Museum of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin prepared two mummified heads (Toi moko) of two tattooed Māori heads for their repatriation to New Zealand: Te Arikirangi Mamaku (Repatriation Programme Coordinator) and Hinemoana Baker
The ceremony at the Ethnologisches Museum of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin prepared two mummified heads (Toi moko) of two tattooed Māori heads for their repatriation to New Zealand: Te Arikirangi Mamaku (Repatriation Programme Coordinator) and Hinemoan © SPK / photothek.net / Florian Gärtner

News: Toi moko from the Ethnologisches Museum return to New Zealand (13.10.2020)

Grave Goods

Holzidol, Sanradna, farbig gefasst, IV A 6679
Holzidol, Sanradna, farbig gefasst, IV A 6679 © Ethnologisches Museum, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin / Martin Franken, 2018

News: Return of Grave Goods to the Chugach Alaska Corporation (16.05.2018)

Further Information

SPK Managing Non-European Objects: Restitution and Other Solutions