Robin Symes and Christos Michaelides formed a duo of dealers who dominated the international antiquities market in the 1980s and 1990s. During that period they became the best suppliers of illicit antiquities to the most ‘reputable’ museums, private collections and auction houses. Many of their antiquities came from lower-level dealers such as Giacomo Medici and…
From the confiscated archive of Robin Symes, a Roman marble figurine of a draped goddess at Christie’s forthcoming antiquities auction in New York, October 25th 2016 (lot 92) was identified by Christos Tsirogiannis, who is also member of our committee. Greek police seized the photographs during a 2006 raid on Robin Symes’ villa on the…
Investigators recovered more than 2,000 objects, mostly coins, that they say were offered for sale through auction houses. Greek police have busted what they say is a criminal organisation that has been looting antiquities from ancient sites in the country for the past 10 years and smuggling them out to auction houses and private buyers…
Following the recent return of antiquities from the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek to Italy, the spotlight will be on other European collections that contain archaeological material that appears to have been derived from Italy. Among the museums are: Amsterdam, Allard Pierson Museum. Some 15 disputed objects linked to Ellie Borowski, Palladion Antike Kunst, and Robin Symes.…
In the National Museum of Damascus are antique books of black magic or witchcraft listing curses and spells designed to dumbfound or destroy whatever enemy is targeted by the user. Alongside these tattered works lie a bible made out of copper, religious works from the Crusader period and, elsewhere in the museum, a striking stone…
The German ‘Gesellschaft für Ur- und Frühgeschichte e. V.’ informs about how to (or not to) buy antiquities online. read more (in German)
Sandra Cobden has been a New York-based litigator for more than twenty years. For the last seven years, she has worked at Christie’s managing their disputes, legislative interests, and governments affairs. She is also an adjunct law professor at Benjamin Cardozo School of Law, where she teaches art law. read the whole interview and then (probably…
British auction houses have been warned against selling looted Latin American artefacts after a 500 year-old indigenous sculpture, stolen from Colombia, was discovered and returned to its home. read more …well: maybe sell no looted cultural heritage at all?!
The French/German TV station ARTE has several documentaries about the black market of antiquities and art online. Have a look at the documentaries either in German or French!
“Prevention”, “cooperation”, and “awareness raising” are the terms that one hears when it comes to preventing illicit trafficking in cultural property. The challenges are many: thefts in museums, public and private spaces, and archaeological sites are ongoing; conflicts ravaging the Middle East are leading to a surge in looting and trafficking; and circulation and sale…
EAA-Community on the Illicit Trade in Cultural Material 