A Tipping Point in Restitution Claims

Whilst the idea of ‘restitutionrestitution’ has been around as a legal concept for many centuries, its use in relation to cultural propertycultural property is much more recent. The issue of the return of the Benin ‘bronzes’ has recently grown in prominence, culminating in a series of proactive claims made by the Nigerian state in early 2022, including to the HornimanHorniman. This chapter offers an overview of the background and history of restitution, and what may have led to the current tipping point.