A particularly embarrassing scandal for one of the most prestigious cultural institutions in the world. The director of the British Museum resigned on Friday following a series of thefts in the collections of the London museum.
In office since 2016, Hartwig Fischer, 60, had already announced his intention to step down next year. But the pressure on this German art historian - the first non-British at the head of the British Museum - had been mounting since the announcement on August 16 of the disappearance of a series of pieces from the collections, some dating back to the fifteenth century BC.
"My presence is confusing"
"It is clear that the British Museum has not responded as it should have to the warnings of 2021 and the now fully visible problem," Fischer said in a statement. "The ultimate responsibility for this failure lies with the director."
"The situation in which the museum finds itself is extremely serious. I sincerely believe that he will overcome this episode and come out stronger but unfortunately I have come to the conclusion that my presence is a source of confusion," he added.
Resignation accepted... and President's support
The museum's president, George Osborne, said the resignation - effective immediately - had been accepted and that an interim management would be put in place pending the selection of a new boss for the institution. Mr. Fischer "acted honorably in confronting the mistakes that were made. No one ever doubted Hartwig's integrity, his dedication to his work, or his love for the museum," said George Osborne.
The announcement of a series of thefts, small pieces not exposed preserved in the reserves, was an explosion for the museum. Founded in 1753, the latter includes in its collections of eight million pieces the famous Rosetta Stone, a stele that has made it possible to decipher hieroglyphics, and is one of the most visited attractions in the United Kingdom.
Up to 2,000 items missing, according to press reports
Among the missing or damaged pieces are gold jewelry, semi-precious stones or glassware dating from the fifteenth century BC to the nineteenth century AD. The institution said in mid-August that it had dismissed an employee, referred the matter to the police and launched an independent investigation to shed light on the thefts and learn from them. She had assured that she was making every effort to find the stolen parts.
Since then, revelations have multiplied in dribs and drabs, which evokes up to 2,000 objects disappeared over several years, some ending up for sale on eBay for small sums. The press also identified the employee as Peter Higgs, a curator recognized in art circles who denies any responsibility. London police said they had questioned a man, without naming him, but had not launched any prosecution.
Against a background of suspicions, a promotion that questions
The BBC has revealed the existence of emails from an art seller, Ittai Gradel, alerting the museum of thefts as early as 2021. According to some media, not only was Peter Higgs left in office despite these suspicions but was recently promoted to oversee the Greek collections including the Parthenon marbles, pieces at the heart of an ultra-sensitive dispute because claimed by Greece.
Despite the willingness of the museum's management to reach an agreement with Athens, the British government is firmly opposed to any return of the 75 m frieze detached from the Parthenon, legally acquired by the diplomat Lord Elgin. The law strictly regulates any transfer of British Museum items.
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The announcement of the theft of objects from the collection immediately revived the case. The British press quoted Greek archaeologists as a sign that the pieces from Greece are not safe in London, while British lawmakers responded by crying opportunism.