Ethiopian imperial hairpin looted in 1868 to be returned after more than 150 years

A 19th-century gold hairpin taken from Ethiopia during the British expedition to Magdala in 1868 is set to be returned, more than 150 years after it was removed from the country, UK-based outlet The Voice reported.

The artifact, which belonged to Empress Tiruwork, wife of Emperor Tewodros II, was among thousands of Ethiopian cultural objects looted by British forces following the fall of Magdala. The hairpin has now been secured for repatriation by the Royal Ethiopian Trust (RET), a non-profit organization working to recover Ethiopia’s displaced cultural heritage.

According to The Voice, the hairpin was acquired through negotiations with Bertolami Fine Art, an auction house in Rome, after it resurfaced in a private collection where it had remained for more than a century. The negotiations were led by His Imperial Highness Prince Ermias Sahle-Selassie Haile-Selassie, President of the Crown Council of Ethiopia, in collaboration with RET board member Nicholas Melillo.

RET was established by Prince Ermias Sahle-Selassie, grandson of Emperor Haile Selassie I, with the stated aim of preserving and promoting the cultural, educational, and economic well-being of Ethiopians, The Voice reported.

Preserved in its original velvet-lined presentation box, the hairpin is described as a rare surviving example of 19th-century Ethiopian imperial craftsmanship. Archival sources link the piece to James Sinclair, Surgeon General of the British 33rd Regiment, who may have been present during Empress Tiruwork’s final days as she traveled with her son, Prince Alemayehu, following the death of Emperor Tewodros II.

RET said the hairpin is expected to be repatriated in early 2026. The organization is coordinating with Ethiopian cultural authorities to ensure the artifact is permanently housed at the National Museum of Ethiopia in Addis Abeba, where it is planned to be displayed alongside the Magdala Shield.

 “Its return restores an important piece of Ethiopia’s cultural record,” The Voice quoted RET as saying, noting that the repatriation also contributes to broader scholarship on the Magdala expedition and the displacement of Ethiopian treasures.

“Education is at the heart of this work,” said Nicholas Melillo. “When we deepen our understanding of our shared human story, we create the foundation for genuine dialogue and meaningful connection between cultures.”

Addis Standard