Stolen artifacts that 15 years hiding in the Swiss Freeport, returned to Italy

Tens of thousands illegally exported from excavations of the items were intended for sale in the UK, Japan, USA and other countries

• Stolen artifacts returned from the Geneva Freeport, presented at a press-конференции in Rome
  ansa.it

Stolen artifacts that 15 years hiding in the Swiss Freeport, return to Italy. The other day in Rome held a press-конференция, which was presented to the portion already returned to Italy items. Among them — fragments of temple paintings, sarcophagi, elements, friezes, statues and busts. All in all, the collection, discovered in a joint operation by the Italian carabinieri and the Swiss police, has tens of thousands of items worth about 10 million euros.

the story of the discovery of the collection started in 2014, when the Italian authorities appealed to the Swiss asking for help in the search for the stolen sarcophagus. The Italian carabinieri had knowledge that the sarcophagus, presumably, went through the duty-free zone Geneva Free Ports. During the search in addition to the two Etruscan sarcophagi with lids beautifully carved with a reclining man and woman had found many more items. All confiscated items were found in the cell of the former British art-дилера Robin Simes (Robin Symes), whose name has previously been associated with trafficking in stolen property. The artifacts were stored there for more than 15 years. It was supposed to restore them and forged documents to sell to customers in Germany, UK, Japan, USA and other countries.

At a press-конференции in Rome said that the objects found date back to the VII century BC. — II century ad, and originate from Sicily, Puglia, Campania, Lazio and Calabria. It is believed that they were found during illegal excavations 1970-80-х. "This is one of the most significant finds in recent decades", — said the Minister of culture of Italy Dario Franceschini.

Among the items returned — colorful Etruscan paintings that the chief inspector of antiquities of Etruria region alfonsina Russo (Alfonsina Russo) describes as "outstanding and unique". Their study will open a new page in the history of Etruscan art and decoration of the temples in that era. After the restoration (which, as scientists hope, will take years and will give more information about the places of origin of objects) artefacts will return to those parts of southern Italy, from where they were stolen.

the Material was prepared by Maria Onuchin, AI

Sources: artdaily.com, ansa.it, artinvestment.ru