The works were looted as part of an international criminal conspiracy that is currently under investigation.
He Virginia State Museum of Fine Arts began the process of returning 44 pieces of ancient art to Egypt, Turkey and Italy, their countries of origin, after the institution received what it considered “irrefutable evidence” that the works had been stolen or looted in different instances.
Among the returned works was a bronze Etruscan warrior that the museum said was stolen from an archaeological museum in Bologna, Italy, in 1963 and the other 43 works were looted as part of an international criminal conspiracy which is currently under investigation and involves antique dealers, smugglers and art dealers.
The pieces returned by the Virginia museum had been stolen
In a press release, the Virginia State Museum reported that it had “safely delivered” the pieces to the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office in New York, the institution responsible for an investigation into the works of art that were inscribed in another broader investigation, together with the Department of Homeland Security. According to the Museum’s statement, the district attorney’s office will facilitate the return of the objects to Italy, Egypt and Turkey.
“The clear and convincing evidence presented to VMFA left no doubt that the museum does not have a clear title for these 44 works of ancient art,” Michael R. Taylor, the museum’s chief curator and deputy director of art and education, said in a statement. “Stolen or looted art has no place in our galleries or collection, so we are delighted to return these works to their countries of origin”he pointed out.
So far, there is no evidence linking current employees to any criminal activity related to the acquisition of the parts, which occurred largely in the 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s.
Source: Ambito
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