Italy wants to return 700 artifacts from the collection of criminal art dealer

The collection has long arrested art dealer Robin Symes - a bronze bust of Alexander the Great, pottery, marble head and a rare statue of the goddess with garnet. However, all of these objects are still in the UK. Italy wants to sue for them

mask of Apollo ivory illegally exported from Italy in 1995 , found in the collection of Robin Symes in 2003 and subsequently returned Italy
Source : illicitculturalproperty.com

Many years have passed since the London art dealer Robin Symes was charged with trafficking in stolen artifacts , and his company closed in connection with the bankruptcy , however, hundreds of allegedly stolen items are still in Britain . Basically it Etruscan artifacts come from the region of Lazio and Tuscany - for example, the marble head, clay vessels in the Greek style , a bronze bust of Alexander the Great and a large terra-cotta statue of a seated goddess with a dove and garnet . Italy is ready to fight for about 700 artifacts in court .

About 30 years Robin Symes was smuggling and selling antique items , which allowed him to own property in London, New York and Athens. But in 2003, his firm went bankrupt , Simes was arrested, and in 2006 opened its relationship with the black market .

British firm BDO, engaged in the liquidation of the company Simes , still holds in antique dealer himself collection as collateral for debts to the state dealer . Italy is seriously concerned about the fate of the items after rumors about their possible sale to the Middle East . Italian authorities require a response from Britain on the fate of the artifacts within the next month . Otherwise, the Italians intend to litigate . "Neither Simes or liquidators have no evidence of legal origin of all these archaeological treasures , nor any instruments that will keep them in Britain ," - says the Italian legal representative Maurizio Fiorillo . Firm BDO had no immediate comment on the statement of the Italians .

Prepared by Mary Onuchina , AI

Sources : independent.co.uk , illicitculturalproperty.com , artinvestment.ru

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