Manhattan DA’s Office Seizes $95M in Antiquities from the Metropolitan Museum

On Friday, investigators from the Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office seized dozens of ancient artifacts from the Metropolitan Museum, bringing the total number of artifacts removed since 2017 to over 120, worth more than $95 million. This action follows ongoing investigations into international smuggling rings that have impacted the global antiquities market since WWII.

Details of the Antiquities Seized

The recent seizure includes items believed to have been looted from Italy, Turkey, Egypt, and other countries. The objects range in value from $20,000 to $26 million and feature significant pieces such as:

• A first-century CE Roman marble head from Greece
• A 2,000-year-old bronze statuette from Turkey
• A gold diadem decorated with rams’ heads from ancient Egypt

Among the dealers linked to these artifacts is Robert Hecht, who sold a 2,500-year-old Greek vase to the Met in 1972 for over $1 million. The vase was returned to Italy in 2008 after being identified as stolen.

Cooperation Between the DA’s Office and the Met

The Metropolitan Museum stated that the removal of these artifacts is part of a collaborative effort with the DA’s office. They conducted their own provenance research after receiving evidence suggesting the items had been looted. Lucian Simmons, head of the Met’s provenance team, emphasized, “The Met doesn’t want any stolen art in our collection.”

However, the DA’s office has expressed frustration over the pace of the museum's review process. Matthew Bogdanos, leading the Antiquities Trafficking Unit, remarked, “The recurring seizures at the Met spoke for themselves. The question has to be asked, ‘Why are we the ones doing this?’”

Challenges in Provenance Research

The museum insists that determining the rightful ownership of artifacts is a complex process. Simmons stated, “Determining which corresponding present-day country a work came from, and the object’s unique ownership history, is not always straightforward.”

This ongoing situation highlights the challenges faced by institutions in ensuring the integrity of their collections while cooperating with law enforcement.