January 16, 2003
Stolen Etruscan statuette recovered 40 years later
Haven't seen anything in the English-language press about this, but La Repubblica reports that a bronze Etruscan statue stolen from the Museo Civico Archeologico of Bologna in 1963 has been reclaimed after turning up in New York at the Royal-Athena Galleries, where it had been catalogued at $50,000.
NB: The Repubblica article errs in calling Royal-Athena Galleries an auction house, though it seems that the statuette was being sold on consignment. No word yet on the other 19 pieces stolen along with the recovered statuette.
Posted by David on January 16, 2003 10:47 AM
Re: Your report of January 16, 2003. This bronze was purchased by us at a Christie's auction in New York and had been previously been checked for possible theft by the Art Loss Register. Upon hearing of a claim for it we immediately returned it to Christie's who then turned it over to the Italian government. Can you supply with us with any information as to the other 19 pieces that were stolen from the museum at the same time (in 1963)? Perhaps we can help in tracking down other pieces.
Jerome M. Eisenberg, Ph.D.
Director, Royal-Athena Galleries
Posted by: Jerome M. Eisenberg on June 3, 2003 5:20 PM
We have no specific knowledge of the other 19 pieces; we are merely reporting on the Repubblica article, which stated:
Una preziosa statuetta etrusca, rubata quarant'anni fa dal Museo Civico Archeologico di Bologna, è stata recuperata e riportata in Italia dai Carabinieri del Nucleo Tutela Patrimonio Culturale. La "Figura di banchettante" era stata trafugata al museo nel 1963 insieme ad altri 19 pezzi e portata clandestinamente negli Stati Uniti.
Posted by: David on June 3, 2003 5:38 PM
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