For the first time, the U.S. returns a work of art to the Palestinian Authority

For the first time in history, the United States is returning a work of art from thePalestinian National Authority. In fact, day before yesterday, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg Jr. announced the return of an ivory ceremonial spoon dating from around 800-700 B.C. to the Palestinian Authority, marking the first time a cultural object has been returned to the Palestinian people by the United States. The object was seized as a result of the Bureau’s multinational criminal investigation of Michael Steinhardt, one of the world’s largest collectors of ancient art, who had 180 stolen antiquities seized, valued at $70 million, and was given a unique lifetime ban on acquiring antiquities. The object was officially repatriated last Jan. 5 in Bethlehem in the West Bank during a ceremony attended by the U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), the U.S. State Department and Rula Maayah, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities of the Palestinian Authority.

The returned ceremonial spoon was used to pour incense as offerings to the gods or the dead and was found in El Kom in Palestine. It first appeared on the international art market on January 21, 2003, when Steinhardt purchased the ceremonial spoon from Gil Chaya, an Israeli antiquities dealer. In the past year alone, Unity has returned more than 1100 antiquities worth nearly $115 million in 15 countries.

“We are proud to join with our law enforcement and government partners at this time,” said District Attorney Bragg. “It is impossible to place a value on the cultural and historical significance of looted antiquities, and I thank our talented team of attorneys and investigators who are continuing their incredible work to return these objects to those to whom they rightfully belong.”

“Antiquities trafficking is a multibillion-dollar business with looters and smugglers making profits at the expense of cultural heritage,” said Ivan J. Arvelo, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New York. “Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents are specially trained to track trafficked antiquities with the safe return of these lost pieces as the ultimate goal of all our investigations. We are honored to join our partners today in this historic repatriation of this artifact to the Palestinian Authority.”

For the first time, the U.S. returns a work of art to the Palestinian Authority

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