More looted artefacts make their way back to Italy from US

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News Websites
15 Aug 2023 12:22

Some of these retrieved items, including an Apulian krater dating back to 335 BC, was seized by the Manhattan district attorney's office earlier this year.

Stolen archaeological treasures returned to Italy (Italian Ministry of Culture)

Italy has successfully repatriated more than 200 valuable archaeological treasures, such as Etruscan vases and ancient Roman coins, from the United States as part of their ongoing efforts to reclaim looted artifacts. Some of these retrieved items, including an Apulian krater dating back to 335 BC, were seized by the Manhattan district attorney's office earlier this year.

The Italian Carabinieri's stolen art unit issued a statement on August 11, stating that these repatriated cultural assets were discovered in the US, with their illicit origin definitively established through a joint investigation by the Carabinieri and the Manhattan public prosecutor's office. These artworks had been unlawfully sold to American museums and private collectors during the 1990s.

Of notable importance, the statement claimed that 65 of the looted artifacts were "already in the collection of the Menil Collection in Houston." However, the Museum disputed this assertion, stating that a collector approached them in 2022 with a donation offer for these items. Subsequently, the Italian Culture Minister informed the Museum about Italy's claim over the objects.

A Carabinieri spokesperson further clarified that among the returned artifacts, "70 lots, comprising a total of 145 pieces, are part of the bankruptcy procedure against the British citizen Robin Symes, located thanks to the investigations conducted by the Carabinieri." Italy recently reclaimed around 750 archaeological artifacts worth approximately €12 million after a protracted legal dispute with the infamous dealer Robin Symes.

The flow of repatriated artworks between the US and Italy is gaining momentum. Notably, in January, sixty archaeological artifacts that were reportedly looted from various Italian sites were returned. This high-profile repatriation involved items purchased by collector Michael Steinhardt, and even artifacts held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, such as a marble Head of Athena dating back to 200 BC.

However, concerns are emerging regarding the authenticity of a significant portion of the recovered works. Gianfranco Adornato, an expert in Greek and Roman art and archaeology, has voiced doubt about the genuineness of many pieces, suggesting that a considerable number might be "easily recognizable fakes."