Rome, Aug 12 (FN Agency) The United States has assisted in returning to Italy 266 illegally exported antique cultural objects worth tens of millions of dollars on the international art market, the cultural heritage protection division of the Carabinieri, the Italian military police, said on Friday. “The exceptional result was achieved due to the ongoing investigations carried out by the Art Carabinieri in cooperation with the New York City Prosecutor’s Office. In particular, cultural objects, which illicit origin was unequivocally demonstrated by the Carabinieri’s investigative work, have been found in the US.
In cooperation with the Manhattan prosecutor’s office, they [the Carabinieri] have achieved their [objects] seizure and return to our country,” the Carabinieri said in a statement that has pictures of several vases and sculptures. The artifacts that date from the 9th century BC to the 2nd century AD were all taken across the ocean by international art dealers for resale, the statement read. The collection includes 144 objects that previously belonged to a bankrupt Englishman. In the legal process, the Italian state has acted as plaintiff. Another 65 pieces were returned to Italy by a Houston museum after the Carabinieri discovered the illegal origin of these objects.