Italy announced the retrieval of 266 archaeological pieces from the United States, with an estimated worth in the tens of millions of euros. These artifacts were transported and sold in the U.S. by an international antiquities smuggling network during the late 1990s.
The reclaimed items, some of which date back to the 9th century BCE, encompass works from the Etruscan civilization, Magna Graecia, and the Roman Empire periods.
On Friday, a statement by a specialized unit of the Italian Carabinieri (military police) stated that the recovery of these pieces was made possible due to collaboration between Italian and American judicial authorities.
Images released by the Italian Ministry of Culture displayed these artifacts, including various vessels, a statue’s head, and some coins, during an event held in New York marking their return.
The statement highlighted that 145 pieces were recovered as part of bankruptcy proceedings against an art dealer.
Furthermore, the statement noted that 65 additional pieces were sourced from the Menil Collection Museum in Houston, Texas. However, a spokesperson for the museum mentioned that these artifacts were initially presented to the museum as a gift. The donor was redirected to the Italian Minister of Culture, who subsequently informed the museum that Italy was requesting the return of these artifacts.
The spokesperson added, “The Menil Collection declined these art pieces from a collector and they were never a part of the museum’s exhibits.”
