Italy displays returned antiquities looted from London dealer Symes
Italy is displaying hundreds of antiquities that were looted from Italian territory and were recovered from a London antiquities dealer ROME -- Italy on Wednesday displayed hundreds of antiquities that had been looted from Italian territory and were recovered from a London antiquities dealer. The 750 objects, which date from the 8th century BC and the medieval period, include an Etruscan three-legged bronze table, marble busts of men from the imperial age, and wall paintings that are believed to be from the area of Mt. Vesuvius. The Culture Ministry valued the items at 12 million euro ($12.79 million), according to a statement. They were in the possession of a London company in liquidation, Symes Ltd, owned by dealer Robin Symes. “The most complex moment was when the liquidators showed their availability (to return the objects), which was a willingness that implied a demonstration of illegality,” said Carabinieri Cmdr. Vincenzo Molinese, who is in charge of the carabinieri unit prote...