Authorities in New York returned a collection of stolen antiquities valued at nearly $3.5 million to Italy, as part of the city’s efforts to shed its reputation as a major hub for the illegal art trade. During a ceremony in New York, investigators handed over 42 exceptional pieces, some dating back 2,500 years, to Italian officials. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s statement highlighted the event.
Bragg noted, “We are actively undoing the damage caused by decades of highly organized smuggling networks dealing in Italian antiquities. Since taking office in 2022, we have repatriated over 200 antiquities to Italy.”
The commander of Italy’s Carabinieri Art Squad, Vincenzo Molinese, praised the successful outcome of the joint investigation between the United States and Italy.
Among the returned works was a vase from the Apulia region in southern Italy, dating back to 335 BC. This vase had been stolen from a burial site and subsequently smuggled out of the country by Giacomo Medici, a notorious dealer in Italian antiquities. The bowl, which had been utilized for mixing water and wine, was seized in July from a private collection in New York after passing through London.
Starting from 2017, New York prosecutors have been instrumental in repatriating artworks that were looted from approximately 20 countries during the 1970s and 1990s. These repatriations encompass pieces from ancient civilizations such as Greece, the Roman and Byzantine empires, as well as regions like Iraq, China, India, and Southeast Asia.
Source: (AFP)
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