The Michael C. Carlos Museum returned three illicitly exported artifacts held in its collection to Greece on Jan. 22. The pieces — a marble sculpture of a goddess or muse, an ancient bathtub and a marble seated figure — were acquired by the museum in the early 2000s.
A “Seated Figure from a Grave Naiskos,” one of the pieces Emory returned on Monday, was part of a records archive of looted antiquities seized by Swiss authorities in 2002. Another, “Bathtub (Larnax),” is believed to have previously been in antiquities traffickerGianfranco Becchina’s possession, suggesting it was looted.The Carlos Museum bought the third artifact, “Statue of a Goddess or Muse (Terpsichore),” in 2002 from dealer Robert Hecht, who was charged with trafficking illegally excavated antiquities, with evidence suggesting that the statue was uncovered in 1997 during illicit excavations. However, Hecht was never convicted.
Professor Emerita of History Cynthia Patterson said she has a hard time believing the Carlos Museum staff did not know the statue was looted when the purchase was made, pointing out that the museum’s curator of Greek and Roman art at the time previously worked under Hecht before joining Emory. Patterson added that the statue was delivered to Emory in two pieces, noting that looters often break objects to sell them without drawing attention to themselves or for easier transportation.
“Looting is a really serious problem,” Patterson said. “Many people don't realize what a dark and dirty business it is.”
The Greek Ministry of Culture informed the Carlos Museum in 2007 that two of the three artifacts had been stolen from Greece and requested their return, according to the Chronicle’s investigation. However, the museum did not act on the requests until now. In April 2023, the Carlos Museum met with representatives from the General Directorate of Antiquities and Cultural Heritage in Athens, Greece and the representatives re-presented the evidence that the antiquities were trafficked.
Hellenic Republic Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni, who spoke at a press conference at the Carlos Museum’s Ackerman Hall on Monday, expressed her gratitude that the items were returning to Greece after 15 years of “constantly adding new evidence” to prove that the objects were illegally trafficked.
“In this respect, the Carlos Museum joins an expanding list of museums around the world which in recent years is making a significant effort to investigate, with an open mind and without prejudice, difficult questions about the provenance of the objects in their collections,” Mendoni said.
Provost and Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs Ravi Bellamkonda and Mendoni signed an agreement of cultural cooperation that returned the artifacts. The agreement also provides expanded opportunities for Emory students, faculty and staff to participate in Greek archaeological dig sites and excavations.
“It is an important agreement for us all,” Bellamkonda said. “It signals our sincere intent to deepen our relationships and collaborate on our shared missions of study and sharing and protecting free culture and doing so to the highest ethical and academic standards possible.”
Associate Vice Provost and Carlos Museum Director Henry Kim stressed that the partnership between Emory and Greece goes beyond simply the repatriation of the artifacts.
“It is also about establishing the formal partnership between the museum and the Ministry of Culture so that we can actually partner with museums with grace, for the exchange of objects and also the development of exhibitions together,” Kim said.
The Carlos Museum returned five looted Italian artifacts last year after conversations with Italian officials, Assistant Vice President of University Communications Laura Diamond said. This followed an August investigation by The Chronicle of Higher Education, which stated that at least 218 pieces owned by the museum had passed through people convicted of or indicted on charges related to antiques trafficking or falsifying information about the origin of certain pieces. Diamond wrote that this investigation “did not factor” into the Carlos Museum’s decision to return the artifacts.
When asked whether the University has plans to return the other potentially looted artifacts, Assistant Registrar and Provenance Researcher Annie Shanley (15G) said that the Carlos Museum will investigate if other artifacts in their possession are stolen.
“If the evidence arises in the future, then we will take steps to reach out to the countries of origin and arrange their return,” Shanley said.
Patterson said that there was still more work to be done on Emory’s part.
“All students and the whole entire Emory community would benefit from an open discussion and education in the antiquities market,” Patterson said. “How it works … what the structures are, what the networks are and what the consequences are of purchasing from the market and from the dealers.”
Correction (1/24/24 at 3:35 p.m.): A previous version of this article stated that the Carlos Museum returned looted Italian artifacts last year after an August investigation by The Chronicle of Higher Education. In fact, this investigation did not factor into the museum’s decision to return the artifacts, according to Assistant Vice President of University Communications Laura Diamond.
