Trafficking in Antiquities—J. Paul Getty Museum

The J. Paul Getty Museum is under fire again for having antiquities that have been stolen.^[1] This time, it is Greece that is claiming that four artifacts in the museum’s collection were stolen from that country.^[2] Purchased in 1993, a gold funerary wreath, an inscribed tombstone, and a marble torso, all of which date from about 400 BC, are at the center of the controversy.^[3] A fourth artifact, an archaic votive relief purchased in 1955 by J. Paul Getty himself, is also wanted by the Greek government.^[4] All artifacts were allegedly stolen from Greece.

Nine years ago, the Greek government lodged a complaint to have the wreath, tombstone, and torso returned, and they formally renewed the request in May through diplomatic channels; officials in Los Angeles claim that they informed the Getty Museum before it purchased those artifacts that they “almost certainly had been looted and smuggled out of Greece.”^[5]

These accusations come at an unfortunate time for the museum as it deals with allegations from Italy that some antiquities in its collection were stolen from that collection. Greek officials, however, acknowledge that “they lack the kind of hard evidence that their Italian counterparts have used to launch a far-reaching criminal case aimed at stopping the international traffic in smuggled antiquities.”^[6]

We have previously discussed the J. Paul Getty Museum and trafficking in antiquities here.

---

[1] Ralph Frammolino et al., Greek Officials Demand the Return of Getty Antiquities, L.A. Times, Oct. 24, 2005, available here.
[2] Id.
[3] Id.
[4] Id.
[5] Id.
[6] Id.