Robert McCarthy Jr., an American financier and collector of medieval art, has reached an agreement with the Toledo Museum of Art and the Ethiopian government to jointly investigate the provenance of approximately 380 Ethiopian antiquities in his collection. The arrangement seeks to resolve longstanding questions about the legal ownership and export status of the artifacts, many of which lack detailed documentation proving their lawful removal from Ethiopia.

McCarthy, who has assembled his collection since the 1990s, acknowledged that many of the pieces were acquired through dealers and auctions in Europe and the United States without the complete provenance records now required by museums and cultural institutions. While the standards governing artifact acquisition have tightened significantly in recent decades, McCarthy said that at the time of his purchases, he believed the works had already left Ethiopia legally and took steps to cross-check them against known records of Ethiopian cultural property.

Under the new agreement, McCarthy will transfer ownership of the artifacts to the Toledo Museum of Art in Ohio, which will collaborate with Ethiopian experts to determine the origins and rightful ownership of the objects. Those proven to have been exported illegally will be repatriated to Ethiopia, while items with clear legal provenance will remain on display at the Toledo institution. For artifacts where ownership remains uncertain after thorough investigation, both parties will jointly decide their future stewardship. During the research process, which may span several years, the artifacts will be exhibited both in the United States and Ethiopia.

Five items from McCarthy’s collection, including two 15th-century religious manuscripts determined to have been removed after 1970, have already been identified for immediate return to Ethiopia. McCarthy is donating about two-thirds of the remaining collection to the museum, while the institution will purchase the remainder at fair market value, facilitating partial reimbursement of his investment.

This initiative reflects a broader global trend of increased vigilance by countries and museums in protecting cultural heritage, as seen with recent repatriation efforts by nations such as Italy, Cambodia, and Turkey. Current international conventions, notably the 1970 UNESCO agreement, emphasize that institutions should not acquire artifacts without clear proof of legal export, either predating that year or appropriately documented thereafter.

Adam M. Levine, director of the Toledo Museum of Art, highlighted the importance of collaboration with Ethiopia as a means to address the complexities of provenance research. "Rather than dismissing the collection, we sought the input and partnership of Ethiopian authorities," he said. Sophie Ong, the museum’s curator overseeing the project, noted that the museum is applying the 1970 UNESCO timeline to assess legality despite Ethiopia’s earlier patrimony law dating to 1981.

Abebaw Ayalew Gella, director general of the Ethiopian Heritage Authority, called the partnership a "remarkable opportunity" and a model for cultural heritage preservation. The repatriated works are expected to be housed partly at the National Museum of Ethiopia, where they will contribute to the country’s historical narrative.

McCarthy, who holds a master’s degree in medieval history and has long been fascinated by Ethiopian art’s unique synthesis of African and medieval European traditions, welcomed the collaborative approach. “The goal is that the entire collection be available for viewing and study from time to time in both Toledo and Ethiopia," he said, emphasizing the shared cultural value of the artworks for all parties involved.