Antiquities
In Burkina Faso and Mali, pilot scheme builds defences against illegal trafficking of cultural antiquities
Icom and Aliph’s $250,000 project is providing training and security measures for 22 museums in countries ravaged by war
Antiquities dealer Ali Aboutaam given 18-month suspended sentence by Geneva court
Decision brings the six-year investigation into the provenance of 15,000 antiquities from Phoenix Ancient Art to an end, with only a handful found to lack proper documentation
US returns stolen artefact to Palestine as part of investigation into New York collector Michael Steinhardt
The US government has returned a looted ivory spoon in the first repatriation exchange between the two countries
Qatari sheikh wins £4.2m lawsuit against prominent London dealer John Eskenazi
While the judge decided the defendant sold the works in good faith, he ruled that all seven objects purchased by the sheikh are fakes
Antiquities trafficking charges against former Louvre director Jean-Luc Martinez and curator Jean-François Charnier could be dropped
The ruling of the examining chamber, expected next year, could overturn the investigation against both curators in a case implicating the Louvre Abu Dhabi and the Metropolitan Museum
American billionaire's Cycladic antiquities collection unveiled in Athens as Greece and Metropolitan Museum of Art reach agreement
The Greek state is now the sole owner of the artefacts but all 161 pieces will be on a 25-year loan to the Met from January 2024
Disgraced antiquities dealer Subhash Kapoor sentenced to ten years in prison by Indian court
The ruling culminates an extensive investigation into a smuggling ring headed by Kapoor
A 2,000-year-old Israeli coin minted during the ‘great Jewish revolt’ repatriated by US authorities
The coin, a Quarter Shekel valued at $1m, was looted in from Israel in 2002 and had been headed for auction before being recovered by US Homeland Security agents in 2017
French art dealer Didier Wormser stands trial for trafficking looted Egyptian antiquities
Owner of L’Etoile d’Ishtar gallery said artefacts from Saqqara necropolis “should be restituted to Egypt” but insists he purchased them in good faith
How partition divided a centuries-old manuscript between India and Pakistan—and continues to plague the region's heritage
Research on the Chandayan of Mulla Da’ud has suffered ever since 24 folios narrating the love story were split up across the border in 1947
The Getty Museum will return a set of illegally excavated life-size statues to Italy
The group of figures, known as “Orpheus and the Sirens”, is one of four artefacts the museum is repatriating to Italy based on new evidence
British tourist’s 15-year prison sentence for antiquities smuggling overturned by Iraqi appeals court
James Fitton, a 66-year-old retired geologist, had been convicted of antiquities smuggling after taking pottery shards from an ancient site
Jailing of British visitor to Iraq could jeopardise tourism and soft diplomacy
After years of conflict and sanctions, heritage trips have been taking off in the area. But potential visitors may be wary after geologist Jim Fitton was given a 15-year sentence for taking “a few worthless pieces of broken pottery”
Louvre launches civil action as part of art trafficking case involving former director Jean-Luc Martinez
A number of objects purchased by the Louvre Abu Dhabi and the Metropolitan Museum of Art are now under scrutiny—including an ancient Egyptian marble head worth €35m
Former Louvre director Jean-Luc Martinez charged in connection with antiquities trafficking investigation
Martinez has been indicted for “complicity of gang fraud and laundering“ of objects purchased by the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Louvre Abu Dhabi
Qatari sheikh loses appeal over fake antiquities claim against Phoenix Ancient Art
Sheikh Hamad Bin Abdullah al-Thani had accused the New York- and Geneva-based dealership of selling him two allegedly fake statues for a combined $5.2m
Italian court calls for restitution of ancient marble statue from Minneapolis Institute of Art
The two-metre-tall statue, which the museum acquired for $2.5m in 1986, was allegedly excavated illegally in the 1970s
Dealer suspected of selling looted antiquities to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Louvre Abu Dhabi detained in Paris
The Hamburg-based dealer Roben Dib was arrested in Paris last week. His lawyers say he will "fully cooperate with the investigation"
Two lots withdrawn from Christie’s antiquities sale after possible ties emerge to dealers known to traffic in illicit artefacts
The artefacts were flagged by Christos Tsiogiannis, who has, since 2006, been identifying looted antiquities through photographic archives of suspected and convicted dealers in plunder
Archaeologist calls for repatriation of Roman fresco in Getty collection that came from known antiquities traffickers
Research published by forensic archaeologist Christos Tsirogiannis suggests the brilliant fresco fragment may have been illegally excavated near Pompeii
Antiquities dealers appeal restrictive New York ban on ivory
The appeal primarily challenges restrictions around the display of commercial ivory objects in the state
US bans import of art and antiquities from Afghanistan
Experts in the trade question whether items seized by US customs under the new four-year policy will be returned to the Taliban
US restitution of 200 Italian artefacts a 'watershed' moment, Carabinieri chief says, as looted art trove arrives in Rome
Repatriation could lead to resolution in other cases of looted art in museums
Sotheby's to offer The Hamilton Aphrodite, an ancient Roman marble last sold 70 years ago now expected to fetch up to £3m
The larger than life-size statue was brought back from Rome by the Duke of Hamilton in the 18th century and is named after his Scottish palace
Qatari sheikh's treasures go on show at 'mini-Versailles' in Paris for the next 20 years
Collection of Sheikh Hamad bin Abdullah Al Thani finds a long-term home at the Hôtel de la Marine, the former repository of French royal furniture, art and jewels
Antiquities think tank pushes UK to impose tougher regulations to fight trade in looted art
Antiquities Coalition has published a policy brief urging government to seize the "window of opportunity" in wake of repealed EU Cultural Goods Regulations
How British Museum's maintenance woes have kept Parthenon Marbles off view for a full year
The poor condition of the London museum’s Greek and Assyrian galleries—with roofs in disrepair causing long closures—is adding to calls for the restitution of the contested works
Major art trade groups join forces to stop looted Afghan artefacts reaching Western market
International trade groups including top British antique dealers vow to oppose trade of Afghan heritage artefacts under Taliban control
It all started with a Roman bowl bought for 75p: antiquities dealership Charles Ede celebrates 50 years in business
The London gallery, now run by Martin Clist and Charis Tyndall, is marking five decades with an exhibition of Greek black glaze pottery opening this week
How do you spot a looted antique? Germany brings in team of experts to help
Government has established €600,000 three-year pilot project called NEXUD to combat illegal trade in antiquities