Italy has asked France to return seven antiquities from the collections of the Louvre museum, claiming they were acquired in the 1980s and 1990s from Italian traders who were later convicted or suspected of illegal dealings in ancient artworks.
The seven items, ranging from 4th to 6th centuries BC, include an amphora and several vases, were listed in a letter delivered last February by Italy’s culture minister during a visit last February and revealed this week.
The president of the Louvre, a state-owned museum Laurence des Cars, told Le Monde newspaper that an investigation has been launched that could result in the artifacts being returned to Italy toward the end of the year.
He added that “I consider that works of doubtful provenance are a stain on the collections of the Louvre.” His predecessor, Jean-Luc Martinez, who ran the museum from 2013 to 2021 is currently awaiting trial in Paris on charges that he covered up fake certificates of origin for archaeological treasures smuggled out of Egypt.
