Roman bust bought for $35 at Texas thrift store identified as ancient artifact

In 2018, vintage art collector Laura Young purchased a marble bust for $34.99 at a Goodwill store in Austin, Texas. Despite being labeled as a 20th-century copy, she suspected its significance and had it examined by auction houses and art historians. The bust was identified as a Roman sculpture from the Julio-Claudian period (1st century BCE to 1st century CE), originally part of King Ludwig I of Bavaria's collection. It had been looted from the Pompeianum in Aschaffenburg, a full-scale replica of a Pompeian villa commissioned by the king in the mid-19th century, near the end of World War II. American troops stationed there during the Cold War may have stolen it. The bust, possibly depicting Roman commander Drusus Major or Sextus Pompey, will be returned to the Bavarian Administration of State Palaces, which will cover transport costs. Before repatriation, it will be on display at the San Antonio Museum of Art (SAMA) for one year, ending May 21, 2023. SAMA's interim chief curator of ancient Mediterranean art, Jessica Powers, will attempt to identify the subject. SAMA director Emily Ballew Neff praised the international cooperation, noting the story involves World War II, diplomacy, ancient art, thrift store investigations, Bavarian royalty, and preservation efforts.