Morgantina silverware will remain in Sicily forever: agreement signed between Salinas Museum and Metropolitan

An agreement was signed in recent days between the Regional Archaeological Museum A. Salinas of Palermo and the Metropolitan Museum of New York that resulted in the decision to have the Morgantina Silverware remain in Sicily forever. It consists of sixteen pieces that make up the most important nucleus of goldsmithing from Hellenistic Sicily (3rd century B.C.), also known as the treasure of Eupòlemos: in silver and gold foil are plates, votive containers, cups and vases. A unique treasure from the site of Morgantina. It was last January that regional councillor for Cultural Heritage and Sicilian Identity Alberto Samonà was planning to write to Culture Minister Franceschini to consider the possibility of stopping the loan of the Argenti.

“An agreement strongly desired by Regional Councillor for Cultural Heritage and Sicilian Identity Alberto Samonà that modifies the point of the Convention signed in February 2006, according to which the precious silverware was transferred from Aidone to the New York museum every four years, and opens to a prestigious collaboration between the two museums,” a note states.

"According to the agreement, the Metropolitan and the Salinas initiate an exchange of artifacts, thanks to which works belonging to the Metropolitan’s collections will be exhibited in the Sicilian museum for three years, and in exchange, visitors to the New York museum will be able to discover, for an equal amount of time, the richness of Sicily’s cultural heritage with works from the Salinas," the note continues. The agreement is also part of a lasting program of cultural cooperation on archaeological heritage and other works of art, which the Salinas Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of New York also intend to consolidate through the organization of joint initiatives and collaborative projects, such as exhibitions, conferences and research. After the collaboration with the Acropolis Museum in Athens, for “the Regional Archaeological Museum a new prestigious synergy begins with another of the world’s leading museums.”

Thanks to the agreement, signed by the director of the Regional Archaeological Museum A. Salinas, Caterina Greco, and the director of the Metropolitan Museum of New York, Max Hollein, some particularly significant finds will arrive in Sicily from the New York museum: these are four rare specimens of Greek ceramics, Cypriot-made and from the Archaic period (750-600 BC). In return, a number of Selinuntine materials (a terracotta arula, an archaic marble oil-lamp, and a figured relief) will arrive in New York from the Salinas, the display of which at one of the world’s most important museums will be a prestigious opportunity for knowledge and communication of the archaeology of Sicily.

Morgantina silverware will remain in Sicily forever: agreement signed between Salinas Museum and Metropolitan

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