Christie’s Pulls Two Antiques Suspected To Be Trafficked Illegally From Sale

Christie’s upcoming April 12 antiquities sale in New York has hit a bit of a snag, with the auction house having to withdraw two lots after a researcher raised concerns about the items possibly being looted. 

According to the Art Newspaper, the items include an ancient Greek vase and a Roman cavalry helmet, which have been traced back to dealers known to be involved in trafficking stolen artifacts. 

Christos Tsirogiannis, a forensic archaeologist who’s spent over 20 years researching auction lots, was the one who sounded the alarm. He pointed out that the antiquities had come from convicted Italian dealer Gianfranco Becchina. 

With an incredibly keen eye, Tsirogiannis managed to spot the vase’s missing restoration details, adding that it did not come with notes about its broken rim and neck, nor lost paint on the artifact. 

As for the helmet, the archaeologist traced its provenance back to Robert Hecht, a dealer who was trialed in 2005 for allegedly dealing in looted artworks. 

In response to the findings, Christie’s said it invests resources into “investigating the provenance” of the works it auctions, and that it would “continue to conduct research” the artifacts that have been pulled.  

[via Artnet News and Art Newspaper, cover image via Tobias Arhelger | Dreamstime.com]