Peruvian Repatriation

  • Company News

SACRED SHIPMENTS: A Story of Repatriation, from Canada to Peru

Cultural restitution is a vital part of preserving and respecting heritage, and when it comes to delicate, historically significant artefacts, every step in the process must be meticulously planned. ICEFAT agents Armstrong Fine Art Services and N. Leigh Transport de Arte recently partnered on a remarkable project – the repatriation of 67 artefacts from a Canadian private collector back to their homeland in Peru. This collaborative effort, undertaken in coordination with the Peruvian Consulate in Toronto, highlights the importance of international cooperation in safely returning artefacts to their place of origin.

Cultural restitution is a vital part of preserving and respecting heritage, and when it comes to delicate, historically significant artefacts, every step in the process must be meticulously planned. ICEFAT agents Armstrong Fine Art Services and N. Leigh Transport de Arte recently partnered on a remarkable project – the repatriation of 67 artefacts from a Canadian private collector back to their homeland in Peru. This collaborative effort, undertaken in coordination with the Peruvian Consulate in Toronto, highlights the importance of international cooperation in safely returning artefacts to their place of origin.

Preparations at the Peruvian Consulate

Armstrong Fine Art Services has a longstanding relationship with the Peruvian Consulate in Toronto, having worked together on several smaller restitution projects, including most recently the return of a beaded necklace. With plenty of experience in repatriation efforts within Canada – having returned significant cultural objects to remote Indigenous communities – Armstrong was well-prepared to take on this larger international endeavour. A unique strength of Armstrong’s operation is its multicultural team, where 15 different languages are spoken. This linguistic diversity allows them to handle international projects with ease; in this case, all documentation, including quotes, shipping labels, and permits, was provided in both English and Spanish to ensure clarity for all involved parties.
One of the 67 Peruvian artefacts shipped by Armstrong Fine Art Services. Source: Armstrong Fine Art Services.
The consulate entrusted Armstrong with the responsibility of preparing and transporting 67 artefacts, each with its own unique fragility. Although their small size meant that only five crates were needed, the complexity of the project lay in their delicate nature; each artefact had to be meticulously measured and traced, so that custom infills could be made to secure them safely within the crates. N. Leigh Transport de Arte, known for its expertise in handling Peruvian objects of cultural significance, provided guidance on the best crating methods to protect the artefacts during transit.
An intriguing aspect of this project was the belief that the artefacts were safeguarded by ancient spirits. According to Peruvian legend, these spirits haunt those who possess the artefacts outside of Peru; true to this belief, several members of the project team at Armstrong and the consulate reported experiencing nightmares until the shipment was enroute to Lima. Whether coincidence or something more mysterious, this added a layer of intrigue to an already emotional undertaking.
Bespoke crates with custom inserts at the Armstrong Fine Art Services facility. Source: Armstrong Fine Art Services.

From Canada to Peru

With the artefacts securely packed, Armstrong Fine Art Services transported them from its facility to Toronto Pearson International Airport, and from there the shipment was flown to Lima, Peru. As an official repatriation, the artefacts were imported into Peru using a diplomatic pouch; this status meant that no customs broker was required, simplifying the process significantly. However, special permits were still needed to ensure a smooth transition upon arrival. The shipment landed in Lima on Christmas Day, and the dedicated handlers at N. Leigh Transport de Arte worked throughout the holidays to ensure the delivery reached the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on time; as the journey to central Lima can be treacherous at night, N. Leigh Transport de Arte opted to wait until the morning of December 26 to transport the crates safely to their destination at the ministry.
Art handlers from N. Leigh Transporte de Arte unpacking an Armstrong Fine Art Services crate at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lima. Source: N. Leigh Transporte de Arte.

Relics returned home

Upon arrival at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the artefacts were carefully unpacked and inspected in preparation for a formal repatriation ceremony. This event, held on 9 January 2025, was a collaboration between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Culture, with representatives from N. Leigh Transport de Arte in attendance. The ceremony marked the official return of these precious relics to their homeland, a moment of great cultural and historical significance. While the next step in the artefacts’ journey has yet to be determined, they are expected to be distributed among various museums across Peru. N. Leigh Transport de Arte will likely oversee their transportation to these institutions, ensuring their preservation and accessibility for future generations.
This collaborative restitution project between Armstrong Fine Art Services and N. Leigh Transport de Arte exemplifies the significant role that ICEFAT plays in the preservation of cultural heritage around the globe, bolstered by the standards of service that all agents adhere to. With careful planning, expert handling, and deep respect for the cultural significance of these objects, the artefacts have finally returned to the land where they belong, allowing them to continue telling their stories for years to come.
BACK TO ALL ARTICLES

Related Posts

How we’re helping during the coronavirus lockdown

The global shutdown caused by the coronavirus has meant much of the work of our agents has come to... read more

Global and Local Transportation

ICEFAT Member Armstrong Fine Art ServicesWhen an Andy Warhol lithograph of a Campbell’s soup can worth $65,000 was swiped... read more

ICEFAT Covid Aftermath: Part 3

In the third and final part of our report on ICEFAT’s members’ responses to the Covid-19 pandemic, we discuss... read more

Fine Art Partnerships Response to the Australian Bushfire Crisis of early 2020

With more than 25% of Australia’s forests burned to date across the country’s catastrophic bushfire season, the total area... read more

Brexit Outcomes I

Crown Fine Art on the road in Amsterdam.Since the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union in 2016,... read more

The Impossible Became Possible: Saving the Treasures of Notre Dame

Our global community of art shippers were united in shock and sadness at the awful events of the Notre... read more

How ICEFAT Has Set the Standards for Safety, Security and Staffing

ICEFAT Member: Crown Fine ArtBack in 2017, art world eyebrows were raised when a thief absconded with $12 million... read more

All Aboard for Athens: Our Lookahead to the ICEFAT 2022 Convention

The year is 1977. The Post-It Note has been invented, Jimmy Carter has been sworn in as the 39th president... read more

HAUTE LOGISTICS: Shipping for the Luxury Sector

An exhibit at ‘From the Heart to the Hands: Dolce & Gabbana’, at the Palazzo Reale in Milan. read more

ICEFAT TALKS BREXIT

ICEFAT TALKS BREXIT

In the UK, no meeting can be had, no bus journey taken and sandwich eaten without hearing,... read more