Why the Nefertiti Bust Is in Berlin and Not Egypt

Few artifacts capture the world’s imagination like the 3,300-year-old Bust of Nefertiti. Crafted around 1353 BCE in the workshop of the royal sculptor Thutmose in Amarna, Egypt, the painted limestone masterpiece remained hidden for millennia—until a dramatic discovery in 1912 changed its fate forever.

Discovery in Amarna

In December 1912, the German Oriental Society excavated the ruins of Thutmose’s studio. Among the debris lay a remarkably preserved bust that seemed to have fallen from a wooden shelf long ago. At the time, Egypt was under British occupation, while its Antiquities Service was led by the French archaeologist Gustave Lefebvre. Excavation finds were to be divided equally between Egypt and the sponsoring foreign team.

For reasons still debated, Lefebvre allowed the Nefertiti Bust to be assigned to Germany. Some speculate that he believed it was merely a plaster model rather than a priceless royal portrait.

Secretive Journey to Berlin

Initially, the bust was kept in a private villa in Berlin’s Tiergarten district. The excavation’s leader, Ludwig Borchardt, hesitated to display it publicly, fearing Egypt might demand its return once its true significance became clear. Nevertheless, in 1924 the bust went on view on Berlin’s Museum Island, instantly captivating visitors—and prompting Egypt to lodge formal restitution requests.

Wartime Hiding and Postwar Decisions

During World War II, the sculpture was packed into crates and moved repeatedly for safety, eventually hidden in a salt mine in Thuringia. After the war, U.S. military authorities ruled that the bust had been “legitimately” exported, clearing the way for its return to Berlin. The German government maintains that stance to this day, despite Egypt’s continued calls for repatriation.

A Contested Icon

Today, the Bust of Nefertiti is the star of the Neues Museum on Berlin’s Museum Island. While millions admire her serene beauty each year, the question of rightful ownership remains unresolved. What is certain is that this ancient queen—once nearly forgotten—has become one of the world’s most powerful symbols of cultural heritage and the complex history of archaeological discovery.