This is a short update on our piece from this summer about the export ban placed on the £15 million Sekhemka statue. While it may have seemed doubtful that a UK entity would be willing (or, more importantly, able) to buy the statue and keep it in the country, there does now appear to be interest in doing so. As a result of this, the Culture Minister has extended the export licence deferral period to 29 March 2016. Such an extension would only have been granted if someone (whether a public institution or a private “Ridley” purchaser) had demonstrated an initial willingness to buy the object from the current owner.

Needless to say, the Save Sekhemka Action Group is thrilled.