[CPProt.net] Italian government alleges Princeton museum has stolen art

[MSN CPPnet (Ton Cremers)]

Italian government alleges Princeton museum has stolen art
  

November 12, 2005, 12:22 PM EST

PRINCETON, N.J. -- Italian authorities are reportedly investigating whether
two ancient vases on display at the Princeton University art museum were
illegally pilfered from Italy. 

The Ivy League is said to have two Greek painted ceramic vases, more than
2,300 years-old, that were stolen from Italy, according to a report in The
Times of Trenton, for Saturday morning's papers. 

Princeton's museum is one of many cultural institutions to come under
scrutiny by the Italian government recently. 

The Italians are investigating more than 100 items they say have been
pilfered from its country, mostly from legally protected archaeological
sites. Many of the items have been linked to America's largest museums,
including the Boston Museum of Fine Art and New York's Metropolitan Museum
of Art. 

This week, Princeton said it had been contacted in December 2004 by Italian
law enforcement officials about the vases, which university officials said
the museum legally acquired in 1989. 

Princeton officials said its museum requires "extensive due diligence in
researching all objects before adding them to its collection." 

"The museum purchased these vases in good faith and has no knowledge of any
wrongdoing associated with their acquisition," Susan Taylor, the museum's
art director told The Times of Trenton. 

Princeton officials said they responded in January 2005 but since then have
heard nothing from Italian authorities. 

The Italian art investigation stems from the conviction last year of Giacomo
Medici for trafficking looted Roman antiquities. The government obtained
Polaroids from a 1995 raid on a warehouse in Switzerland owned by Medici and
sentenced him to 10 years in prison. 

Using the pictures and other information, the Italians have been tracking
down the art. 

Cass Cliatt, spokeswoman for Princeton, said the Ivy League's museum did a
thorough search of its records and found nothing showing that it received
any pieces, directly or indirectly, from Medici. 

However, if the Italian government's investigation proves the vases were
received illegally, the university will not fight to keep them, Taylor said.


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Information from: The Times, http://www.nj.com/times