US returns 107 stolen archaeological artifacts to Italy

The United States will return as many as 107 ancient artifacts toItaly : this was announced in these hours by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg Jr. The total value of the artifacts amounts to 1.2 million euros: these objects were recovered as a result of several ongoing criminal investigations and had previously been trafficked by several well-known antiquities smugglers, including Giacomo Medici, Giovanni Franco Becchina and Robert Hecht. Another alleged smuggler, Edoardo Almagià, has been charged by the Bureau and is the subject of an arrest warrant. The pieces were often passed to well-known art dealers, including Robin Symes, a London-based dealer who was convicted in the United Kingdom, and Herbert Cahn, a Swiss art dealer who received a suspended sentence in Italy for receiving stolen goods.

“Our close cooperation with Italian authorities continues to yield significant results, and I am thrilled that these 107 antiquities are being sent home,” said District Attorney Bragg. “Unfortunately, Italy has suffered significant and extensive looting over the past 60 years, and we will continue to do everything we can to track down and return the pieces that pass through Manhattan.”

Among the pieces that will return to our country is an earthenware kylix, or drinking cup, dating from the mid-6th century B.C.: its base is decorated with a motif of lions and griffins arranged in the shape of a pinwheel. The kylix was found and illegally excavated at the archaeological site of Vulci in the 1960s before being smuggled out of Italy by dealer Robert Hecht. It was finally acquired by the Met in 2017, where it remained until it was seized. Then there is an Apulian volute krater, a large red-figure terracotta vase dating from 320-310 B.C. from Apulia depicting a male figure holding a helmet. The vase also bears the signature of its maker. Edward Almagià is said to have taken the crater to New York and sold it to the Antiquarium Ancient Arts gallery in Manhattan before 1987. The crater was recovered by the ATU from a private collection in 2024. Still, a bronze patera, or Etruscan dish with handle from the 4th century B.C., with a handle in the shape of Apollo. The god holds a lyre in his right hand, an element that identifies him as the patron deity of music. The patera was exported from Italy, probably via Switzerland, by convicted antiquities dealer Gianfranco Becchina. From Becchina, the patera eventually passed to New York antiquities dealer Mathias Komor, who sold it to its current owner. The patera was seized in 2025.

During District Attorney Bragg’s tenure, Manhattan prosecutors recovered more than 2,225 stolen antiquities from 39 countries and valued at $250 million. Assistant District Attorney Matthew Bogdanos, head of the antiquities trafficking unit, supervised the investigation, which was led by Assistant District Attorneys Yuval Simchi-Levi, Edward Smith, James Edwards-Lebair and Jacqueline Studley, investigative analysts Giuditta Giardini, Charlotte Looram and Michael Chapin, and special agents Robert Mancene and Robert Fromkin of Homeland Security Investigations. Investigative support was provided by Carabinieri officer Angelo Ragusa. The District Attorney’s Office thanks the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Jennifer Morris, Cultural Heritage Partners and the staff and board of Kitchen Angels for their assistance and cooperation in the investigation.

US returns 107 stolen archaeological artifacts to Italy

Warning: the translation into English of the original Italian article was created using automatic tools. We undertake to review all articles, but we do not guarantee the total absence of inaccuracies in the translation due to the program. You can find the original by clicking on the ITA button. If you find any mistake,please contact us.