Three ancient artworks that were part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection and are believed to have been looted have been returned to the Republic of Iraq. This return took place on Monday, as announced by the Met and the Manhattan district attorney’s office.
The artifacts were recovered following criminal investigations into looted art, particularly one involving British antiquities dealer Robin Symes, who was suspected of trafficking art until his death in 2023.
The return of the artifacts occurred during an official ceremony at the district attorney’s office in Lower Manhattan, attended by Met officials and representatives from Iraq.
According to the Met, the collaboration with the Manhattan DA’s office led to new information that necessitated the repatriation of the artworks. This resulted in what the museum described as a constructive resolution.
The returned artifacts include a Sumerian vessel made of gypsum alabaster, dating from around 2600 to 2500 B.C., which passed through Symes’s possession before being donated to the museum in 1989. Additionally, two Babylonian ceramic sculptures—a male and a female head, dating from around 2000 to 1600 B.C.—were also returned. The male head was sold to the Met in 1972, while the female head was a gift from the same private collection in 1989. All three artifacts were seized by the district attorney’s antiquities trafficking unit earlier this year.
The male and female heads are believed to originate from Isin, an archaeological site in ancient Mesopotamia, while the Sumerian vessel was reportedly found near the ancient city of Ur when initially offered to the Met in 1956.
The district attorney’s office noted that the investigation into Symes led to the seizure of 135 antiquities trafficked into and through Manhattan, with an estimated value of $58 million.
Manhattan district attorney Alvin L. Bragg Jr. emphasized the ongoing efforts to recover and return antiquities trafficked by Symes, highlighting the commitment of the team involved in restoring cultural heritage.
Iraq's ambassador to the United States, H.E. Nazar Al Khirullah, expressed appreciation for the partnership with American institutions, especially the Antiquities Trafficking Unit, in recovering Iraq’s looted heritage and acknowledged the Met’s dedication to cultural preservation.
Max Hollein, the Met’s director, reaffirmed the museum's commitment to responsible art collecting and cultural heritage stewardship, indicating significant investments in proactive research of their collection.