Manhattan DA Seizes $95M in Antiquities from Met Museum
The Manhattan District Attorney's office has confiscated more antiquities from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, bringing the total value of seized or surrendered items since 2017 to $95 million. In June 2026, ancient artifacts acquired from Italy, Greece, Egypt, and Turkey between 1971 and 2001 were handed over after the Antiquities Trafficking Unit (ATU) identified provenance concerns. Among these items are a 3,700-year-old Greek terracotta jug, an ancient Egyptian gold headdress, and a 2,000-year-old Turkish statuette of Hermes. Led by Matthew Bogdanos, the ATU actively targets illegal antiquities. Critics like Kate Fitz Gibbon contend that the ATU oversteps legal limits and coerces museums into settlements, raising questions about similar methods in France.
Key facts
- Total value of seized or surrendered antiquities from Met since 2017: $95 million.
- In June 2026, multiple ancient objects were transferred to the Manhattan DA's office.
- Items include a 3,700-year-old terracotta jug from Greece, an Egyptian gold headdress, and a Hermes statuette from Turkey.
- The Met acquired these objects between 1971 and 2001.
- The ATU is led by Matthew Bogdanos.
- In 2022, 192 works were returned to Pakistan via the 'Hidden Idol' investigation linked to Subhash Kapoor.
- In 2022, about 30 Greek and Egyptian antiquities were seized from the Met, eight from Gianfranco Becchina.
- In May 2026, over 300 cultural items were returned to Italy.
- The Met created a provenance research department in 2024, headed by Lucian Simmons.
- Kate Fitz Gibbon criticizes the ATU for exceeding UNESCO 1970 Convention standards.
- Fitz Gibbon claims the ATU treats provenance gaps as criminal evidence and pressures museums.
- Fitz Gibbon says many seized items are forgeries.
- The ATU combines scientific, judicial, and penal powers.
- French researcher Magali Dufau suggests France could adopt similar proactive methods.
Entities
Institutions
- Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Antiquities Trafficking Unit (ATU)
- Sotheby's
- UNESCO
- New York Times
- Le Journal des Arts
- Université de Toulouse
Locations
- Manhattan
- New York
- United States
- Italy
- Greece
- Egypt
- Turkey
- Pakistan
- Lebanon
- France