Manhattan DA returns 58 antiquities to Italy, including 21 seized from Metropolitan Museum of Art

“These 58 pieces represent thousands of years of rich history, but traffickers across Italy used looters to steal these items and make their own profit,” district attorney Alvin Bragg said. said in a news release.

“For too long they sat in museums, homes and galleries they had no legitimate claim to,” Bragg said.

Among the items returned was a white Kylix (drinking cup) from 470 BC. credit: Brendan McDermid/Reuters

Italy’s Consul General Fabrizio Di Michele praised the DA’s office and Homeland Security Investigations for their “unrelenting and unwavering commitment” to recover these items.

“These 58 extraordinary masterpieces are priceless treasures of our history and heritage,” said Di Michele. I have to emphasize.”

The prosecutor’s office said it had seized 21 works from the Metropolitan Museum of Art. CNN reached out to the museum on Monday for comment on the seizure and repatriation of these items.

A bronze bust of a man dating from around the 1st century BC or late BC was recovered. credit: Brendan McDermid/Reuters

According to the DA’s office, 58 items were bought and sold by four individuals into the collection of one of the world’s largest collectors, US billionaire Michael Steinhardt. According to the prosecutor’s office, Steinhardt was the first person in history to be banned from acquiring antiques for life.

The repatriation is the latest in an effort to return cultural property illegally sold to private collectors and museums to their countries of origin.

Nearly $14 million worth of stolen goods were returned to Italy in July, including dozens of artifacts seized from Steinhardt.