The altar that found its way home – MTAB assists Peru’s Embassy in returning an important cultural artifact

A richly decorated Peruvian baroque altar from the mid-17th century has finally returned home after decades in Sweden. MTAB was entrusted with the mission of returning the altar to the Peruvian state, carefully assessing its condition, securely packing it, and transporting it to Lima. This unique project united cultural heritage, complex logistics, and international collaboration.

An altar with a fascinating history

The altar is believed to have been created in the city of Chincha, on Peru’s southern coast, during the mid-17th century. It is an intricately carved wooden altar in baroque style, adorned with gold leaf, angelic motifs, pillars, and elaborate ornaments. In the 1920s, Carl Hultgren, Sweden’s ambassador to Buenos Aires at the time, acquired the altar during a visit to Cusco, the former capital of the Inca Empire. Hultgren intended to install the altar in Uppsala Cathedral with assistance from art professor Henrik Cornell and his students. However, due to its impressive size—approximately five by seven meters—the installation proved impossible. Consequently, the altar parts were carefully packed up and returned to Ambassador Hultgren.

After Ambassador Hultgren’s passing, the altar was inherited by his sons. Following their deaths, it was sold at an auction in Stockholm in 1971. Curt Gripmar, a historically interested collector, purchased the altar intending to display it in his office. This plan never materialized, and after his passing, the altar was inherited by his wife, Lisbeth Gripmar, who strongly wished for the altar to return to Peru. Following Lisbeth’s death, their sons, Jan and Johan Gripmar, managed to locate the altar stored in a barn outside Uppsala, after which they contacted the Peruvian Embassy in Stockholm.

Meticulous logistics with cultural responsibility

After discussions between the embassy and the Peruvian Ministry of Culture, it was decided that the altar would be officially returned to Peru as a gift to the nation. The complex logistics involved required special expertise, prompting the embassy to contact MTAB, whose extensive experience with transporting sensitive cultural artifacts made them an ideal partner for the assignment.

“This has been a challenging and rewarding project of immense significance. Assisting in the return of a cultural artifact with such historical and human value is something we are very proud to have been part of,”

Christina Vestergren, Fine Art Coordinator at MTAB

In February 2025, MTAB carefully packed all the altar components into tightly sealed plastic packages. To ensure no pests were transported with the artifact, the parts were treated in an external freezing facility at –30 degrees Celsius for several days. Subsequently, MTAB’s skilled carpenters built custom-made wooden crates for the shipment. In May 2025, the altar was flown to Lima, where it was received by Peru’s cultural authorities for restoration and future public exhibition.

More than a transport – an assignment with meaning

Ultimately, the project exemplifies how advanced logistics can contribute to something far greater than traditional transportation services. “This has been a challenging and rewarding project of immense significance. Assisting in the return of a cultural artifact with such historical and human value is something we are very proud to have been part of,” says Christina Vestergren, Fine Art Coordinator at MTAB.

The Gripmar brothers were present at the official handover ceremony at the Peruvian Embassy in Stockholm. During the ceremony, they shared their family’s personal connection to the altar and expressed how their mother’s final wish had been fulfilled. After nearly 100 years in Sweden, the altar has finally returned home.