Peru recovers 133 cultural assets, including 100-year-old stolen Cusco Altar
Peru has reclaimed 133 cultural artifacts that were illegally taken abroad, including a century-old Cusco baroque altar that had been stolen in 1921 and kept in Sweden for over 100 years.
The recovery was announced by Carlos Amezaga, Director General for Cultural Affairs, during a handover ceremony to the Ministry of Culture, Viory reports.
“We are handing over 133 cultural assets to the Ministry of Culture. This is a task that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs routinely performs, recovering pieces found abroad, assets that belong to Peru's cultural heritage and are recovered to be returned to the Ministry of Culture,” Amezaga said.
The collection spans several of Peru’s iconic ancient cultures, including Nazca, Tiahuanaco, Lambayeque, Chancay, Chimu, and Inca. “The recovered pieces we deliver belong to various cultural styles that reflect the richness and diversity of our cultural heritage,” Amezaga added.
Among the most notable items is the Cusco altar, which was purchased in 1971 by Swedish economist Kurt Gripmar at a public auction.
In 2024, Gripmar’s heirs voluntarily returned the altar to Peru to fulfil the family’s wish to see it restored to its place of origin. “Among the most notable recovered assets, we cannot fail to mention an impressive Cusco altar... Its heirs decided to fulfil the family's wish for the altar to return to its place of origin and voluntarily returned it to Peru,” Amezaga explained.
Amezaga also revealed that the illegal trade of Peruvian artefacts continues to thrive, with most items being smuggled to the United States and Europe. “They generally go to the United States and Europe, which are the main destinations. In many European countries, including Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. And generally, in the United States. That’s where the collectors who usually buy this kind of goods are,” he noted.
The value of these cultural assets varies, depending on their condition and historical importance. “There are very varied costs, but I've seen pieces, let's say, ceramics, that are around €6,000 to €8,000 ($7,048 - $9,397). And sometimes much more. They're actually very, very varied,” Amezaga said.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
