In light of current debates surrounding collecting histories and possible restitution of cultural heritage, it is not a stretch to say that our field is in the midst of a significant self-reevaluation. This journal is no exception. African Arts currently has no policy requiring authors to document the provenance of objects addressed in its pages, although the editorial consortium has initiated the adoption of a set of standards. While unease over publishing works of questionable provenance is not new, the concern is a particularly vital one for African Arts, which publishes scores of high-quality color images in each issue, both online and in print.
The recent publication in African Arts of a Research Note spurred discussion among the journal's editorial boards. The essay focuses on archaeological ceramics identified as Bura and includes nineteen full-color photographs of the objects, whose provenance is unclear. They are held in private collections, which...