Reading Objects with AI: Challenges and Potentials of AI-Based Tools in Provenance Research at the German Ivory Museum

The German Ivory Museum in Erbach holds a diverse collection of ivory objects from different geographical regions, periods, and cultural contexts. While most objects were produced locally, its non-European holdings reflect global centres of ivory carving and historical trade networks. The latest research on this heterogenous collection provides an opportunity to examine how common AI-based tools can support the identification and initial categorization of individual holdings. Using selected case studies, the project explores how accessible AI applications can assist in comparing objects, identifying possible origins, and generating research leads. At the same time, it critically examines the limitations of these tools, including unreliable sources, incomplete data, epistemic biases and legal issues. The case studies also raise broader questions about categorization, authenticity, and the analytical limits of the term ‘colonial context ‘.