ABOUT EPISODE ONE

Venus has a taste for expensive things & Benin Bronzes are among the objects that hold her attention. In Episode 1, Venus's autonomous pets, CUPID (Cyber Unit for Pinpointing my Items of Desire), search for pre-1897 Benin Bronzes via regional eBay marketplace (UK, US, DE & worldwide) APIs in real-time.

WHY EBAY?

In 2023, approximately 2,000 objects were reported missing, stolen, or damaged from the British Museum. Some of the stolen objects were reportedly listed for sale on eBay. Although the Benin Bronzes were not part of the 2023 theft, the episode amplifies the role cultural institutions (e.g., the British Museum) have historically played in the commodification of Benin Bronzes since the 1897 looting. See below a 1899 document drafted by a British Museum official. The document titled "Fate of the Benin Bronze Plaques" outlines plans for the sale of approximately one-third of the looted plaques to museums across Europe.

BENIN BRONZES IN EPISODE ONE

16th century Pendant mask

Location: British Museum
Museum #: Af1910,0513.1

Head of Queen Mother

Location: British Museum
Museum #: Af1897,1011.1