British Museum Act 1963
Encyclopedia
The British Museum Act 1963 is an Act
of the Parliament of the United Kingdom
. It replaced the British Museum Act 1902
. The act forbids the Museum from disposing of its holdings, except in a small number of special circumstances. The amendment of the act would, therefore, be a necessary precursor of the return of items such as the Elgin Marbles
or Benin Bronzes
. In May 2005 a British High Court
judge ruled that Nazi-looted Old Master
artworks held at the museum could not be returned.
The act also made the Natural History Museum
an independent organisation, with its own board of trustees.
Act of Parliament
An Act of Parliament is a statute enacted as primary legislation by a national or sub-national parliament. In the Republic of Ireland the term Act of the Oireachtas is used, and in the United States the term Act of Congress is used.In Commonwealth countries, the term is used both in a narrow...
of the Parliament of the United Kingdom
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
. It replaced the British Museum Act 1902
British Museum Act 1902
The British Museum Act 1902 was an Act of Parliament of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, given the royal assent on 22 July 1902 and repealed in 1963....
. The act forbids the Museum from disposing of its holdings, except in a small number of special circumstances. The amendment of the act would, therefore, be a necessary precursor of the return of items such as the Elgin Marbles
Elgin Marbles
The Parthenon Marbles, forming a part of the collection known as the Elgin Marbles , are a collection of classical Greek marble sculptures , inscriptions and architectural members that originally were part of the Parthenon and other buildings on the Acropolis of Athens...
or Benin Bronzes
Benin Bronzes
The Benin Bronzes are a collection of more than 3000 brass plaques from the royal palace of the Kingdom of Benin . They were seized by a British force in the Punitive Expedition of 1897 and given to the British Foreign Office...
. In May 2005 a British High Court
High Court of Justice
The High Court of Justice is, together with the Court of Appeal and the Crown Court, one of the Senior Courts of England and Wales...
judge ruled that Nazi-looted Old Master
Old Master
"Old Master" is a term for a European painter of skill who worked before about 1800, or a painting by such an artist. An "old master print" is an original print made by an artist in the same period...
artworks held at the museum could not be returned.
The act also made the Natural History Museum
Natural History Museum
The Natural History Museum is one of three large museums on Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London, England . Its main frontage is on Cromwell Road...
an independent organisation, with its own board of trustees.