Rescuing stolen art and antiquities

New York City assistant district attorney Matthew Bogdanos has been employing his detective skills and prosecutorial powers to target those who traffic and trade in stolen art and antiquities. Correspondent Seth Doane talks with Bogdanos about how his and other offices have restored hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of treasures to their rightful owners; the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Andrea Bayer about how the museum is cooperating with officials to bring transparency to its collections; and with Paolo Salvatori, who commands the archaeology section of art police at Italy's Carabinieri.
#artrepatriation @metmuseum
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[@dlanska]

The reported was focused on trying to achieve gotcha moments, which seemed crude at times. Ms. Bayer of the Met was an outstanding spokeswoman, who answered questions carefully and appropriately, despite how they were asked. The Met also appeared as an organization of principle and integrity. She was perfect to deliver that message.

[@MossyMozart]

dlanska - The British Museum should follow the Met's lead instead of refusing to return stolen works.

[@lynnhubbard844]

right, of course...it's the media and their sensationalism

[@openminds8765]

@@lynnhubbard844 or they could genuinely have a concern for art/artifacts and their countries of origins. Let's try not to be Republicans and go negative and hateful any chance we get.

[@refinedphenomena4078]

That’s a good man who is seeking cultural justice 👏 👏 👏 don’t forget about African artifacts stolen through colonialism.

[@dylanharper1274]

Oh yes the Benin Bronzes - I've seen them in the BM

[@dimensionsdance]

That part! Sacred artifacts!

[@dylanharper1274]

@@dimensionsdance I think the excuse given was that they couldn't possibly have been made by Africans, and that a Greek trading colony had produced them. Surely though it's nice that they can be seen and appreciated in London for free. Otherwise no-one would ever have heard of them

[@dimensionsdance]

@@dylanharper1274 That doesn't fly. Many of those artifacts were never supposed to be seen by the un-initiated and the outside and represented ancestors and other deities that were removed from their families and community. They were not to be on display. They had and do have sacred, secret and revered purposes within their communities. Things need to be respected for their value within their communities and left alone. Thanks for your reply.

[@skarbuskreska]

@@dimensionsdance I wonder if it would be ok to display copies, like I mean I know it's not the true artefacts but a 3 D printer and a bit of paint would make it possible to still display something to learn about in the museums, and finally give the real artefacts back to where they belong. I mean it's not as if the untrained eye would see the big difference. I would just find it super boring and a shame if museums just ever dislayed local art and never show any other cultures of the world, as I love museums and to learn about the world and the internet is cool but still that certain quality of a museum artefact in not there. I'm not sure thoug if even a copy would cross a border for this culture and specific artefacts, which could be the case. In which way we'd still have to respect it. The only thing I find hard though, is that considering what we saw Isis and other terror groups did and still do (or might even be official hostile governments like the Russian one destroying Ukrainian art right now), many artefacts in not exactly secure places in the world, might not survive at all in their home countries.

[@idontgivearatsbottom]

If the british museum returns all the artifacts that they stolen, itll be empty

[@boardcertifiable]

Thays not true, they can always dig up some royal dead people and parade them to the public like they've done with Egyptian mummies.

[@Pou1gie1]

@@fjell6543 YES it will be

[@NC-qc7wd]

🤣🤣🤣🤣 SO TRUE

[@TheFiown]

That goes for most museums sadly.

[@Whothem]

And we will never give them back muhuhahahah😂

[@michaelscot4816]

The continuing tradition of the Monuments Men! 💜

[@MossyMozart]

@Michael Scot - It is such an important topic that I wish that film had been better.

[@tishw4576]

This type of work is spreading more good will than we can imagine. Keep up the good work!!!!

[@zoecunningham3019]

Righyfully Back to the contry of origin. These pieces of antiquity were stolen from, these define periods of historical eras more valuable meaning to them.

[@walkietalkietraveller2932]

you're right, Zoe. long overdue.

[@stop736]

Everything that is from a specific country should absolutely stay with or go back to the country or origin. I think everyone can agree with that. That being said, a vast majority of the pieces taken from the Iraq Museum, was looted by Iraqi civilians themselves. And a lot of the Marines or Army officers just took the attitude that “they’re only ruining their own country”, or “we’ll never get that back again” after something was taken. But this officer actually listened to the people of Iraq and to his Marines and he came up with the amnesty program. All of a sudden, people started bringing stuff back! Not everything at first, but very close to all of it! They didn’t question anyone or give anybody a hard time as long as they were bringing back what they took. Turns out, most of the citizens that took things were actually employees of the museum at one time and they took the artifacts to save them from being blown up! These people weren’t criminals (like many assumed). These people cared so much about their past and the thousands of years of history some of those artifacts represented! A huge amount of the history of humanity itself could’ve been gone forever if not for those Iraqi’s and this officer and his Marines/soldiers under his charge. This was one thing Americans did right for those people at that time. And believe me, there were plenty of higher up officers that didn’t care at all about saving this stuff and thought it was a waste of our effort. It didn’t “win wars”, when you found priceless artifacts I guess, so an entire people’s culture means nothing because of that. 🙄

[@yoli5779]

The Kim Kardashian bit was so unnecessary.

[@JohnnyAngel8]

It was because of that photo that the informant was able to get the object returned to Egypt. However, I agree on the point you make that it's unnecessary to see anything with Kim Kardashian in it ....

[@CarrieMHB222]

Puts Indiana Jones in a whole new light.

[@mojosbigsticks]

The British Museum refrained to comment!

[@anthonylagunas6737]

The owner of Hobby Lobby was caught trying to import looted artifacts from Iraq. They were listed as tiles.

[@belledecaucase]

But then some of these treasures get stolen in the countries of their origin or mishandled very badly 😢 seen it with my own eyes in Egypt! An Egyptian kid was hitting an old artifact and the Egyptian security guard just ignored him!

[@Donillini]

I like that this didn’t turn into the philosophical question on what is “stolen”. This was a story about straight up art being taken under nefarious reasons and recent

[@LindaC616]

It'll still turn into that--you just got here early

[@CadetBoneSpurs]

“Taken under nefarious reasons” - so ….. STOLEN

[@trevojreal7]

Most of the Italian artifacts were taken in WWII, how quickly everyone forgets nonno sided with the nazis. More time and energy should be put into returning artifacts taken out of Africa.

[@Pou1gie1]

@@trevojreal7 Also, the mafia makes money from selling artifacts. People forget gangs and poor looters are the other reason.

[@lynnhubbard844]

@@trevojreal7 and pre-columbian artifacts

[@rachaelgoldman5846]

I wonder how this will affect the field of art appraising and donations.

[@MossyMozart]

@Rachel Goldman - it already has. Many dealers, auction houses, and museums will no longer take art that does not have a solid provenance. If only ALL of them would take these lessons to heart.

[@abrahamboniface6305]

I love this guy!

[@dennismorris7573]

Great story and result.

[@PlasmaCoolantLeak]

Oh, I like him! Keep up the good work, Marine!

[@steveconn]

I think this is why native art doesn't match the same thousands of dollars prices of fine art on the auction market; buyers afraid of blowback from some justly irate tribe claiming theft.

[@DanaMariedotorg]

With the finite resources they should stop /resolve sex trafficking, child abuse and the homicide unit

[@medusagorgon8432]

If the artwork did not originate in your country, you stole it. It's theft, plain and simple.

[@mariapilarme]

I would love to work for you.

[@kathleencaffrey1716]

Know better, do better. They were had. And they acted after learning that.

[@SandyWolf-]

Good for you I hope you recover many stolen artifacts

[@Joyce-bv2tg]

Good on you. Return all the antiquities to their regions.

[@larasemerad2605]

WW2 - USA and France ;military soldiers return art , base on true story-movie too.

[@captainnima]

What a great guy. Keep up the great work. We need DAs like him everywhere.

[@bradjohnson3363]

i can sit down and listen to this man talk for a long time.

[@amarachidesi]

Just go to Britain to get all the stolen art and artifacts, etc

[@Pou1gie1]

I love that the MET is trying to re-frame this as them working with Bogdanos. They don't want to work with him the HAVE to work with him, they are making it seem like a choice.

[@JohnnyAngel8]

It is working with him. If the MET wanted to tie things up in court, it could ... but it doesn't.

[@henrylivingstone2971]

The MET reserves every right to push back against any litigation with a drawn out legal case. The MET could also argue that they bought the artifact in good faith. Which gives them legal protection considering public institutions are allowed to keep artifacts or avoid legal action if they can prove their purchase was unaware of the illegal nature of the artifact.

[@DM-lc2cf]

It is a fact of history from the beginning, that whoever won the war, claimed the treasure.....This is not some new issue....

[@katrussell6819]

We need to end entitlement to stolen antiquities. Send them home.

[@peacenow4456]

GREAT STORY! Present day MONUMENT'S MEN!!

[@Mr19thcenturyman]

I visited a missionary church near Trinidad Colorado and was saddened to hear of a sacred staff that was stolen.

[@savagerampage69]

Wow this was so interesting! What a cool guy

[@bradjustad3527]

We need to be careful returning works of art to countries that have no appreciation for them for religious reasons ALSO in my country/ the US we should not destroy statues of historical significance I understand that some people may find certain objects maybe racially offensive However IT'S OUR HISTORY Rather than a celebration, it should make our children THINK.!

[@Goldenretriever-k8m]

its more than a bit scary to return art to places where ISIS or other violent cults have the power to destroy items

[@random22026]

1:03 'Someone OF THAT STATURE?' What 'stature' is that, exactly? A theft breaks the law--'bespoke suit', 'limo', or no. 3:22 Returning to that old expression, no need for an update: All Roads Will, Eventually, Lead to Rome 5:04 5:36 6:26 👀👀👀 6:58 🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏 8:13 'You must have a VERY BUSY PHONE!' 😀😀😁😁😂😂🤣🤣😃😃😄😄😅😅😆😆

[@Vermontguy87]

Well, I’m not sure I understand if it’s just going to be in a store room somewhere not on display why don’t let the person who bought it put it on display and love it instead of just being somewhere where no one gets to view it

[@deborahdufel1664]

Thank you this extensive report.

[@MewDenise]

The set of this program makes me think this was filmed in the 90s... its that outdated looking

[@emeraldkimble7602]

The Vermeer painting taken fromisabel Gardner museum most vskubkr artifact

[@kcsnipes]

I unfortunately cannot take 10 sec of this gentleman talking 0:20 is he going for an Oscar nomination? I kid but I hope the video is good for others 😅🙏

[@ronniehdable]

Return to the government. Not the family. So crazy

[@Cara-39]

The 2003 Iraq Museum looting was preventable but the US refused to provide protection and 15,000+ artifacts were stolen over the course of 3 days. Thankfully, Bogdonos was able to help return many but there are some major pieces still missing. Terrorist groups like ISIS gained millions of dollars by selling looted antiquities on the black market and we need more people like Bogdonos and more resources devoted to stopping it. The Medici Conspiracy and Chasing Aphrodite are great books on how the world's top museums, including The Met and The Getty, knowingly purchased antiquities with questionable provenance and fake papers.

[@cirociri1091]

That's why i still love U.S. a country where honests citezens can still make the difference! God bless the United States of America

[@mattb8754]

That goodness we have places like the british museum, the louvre, the met etc. If it wasn't for these places so much history would be lost or destroyed by ignorant 3rd world counties.

[@dashaway1460]

Monument Men ....one of my most favorite movies! The story has resonated so many times!

[@MossyMozart]

@Dashaway - Important topic, but not a superb movie. I wish it had risen to the moment.

[@ted1091]

Michael Steinhardt knows a thing or two about stolen antiquities

[@santiagogarrido7743]

Hay que dejar de persegui el narcotrafico y persegui esto

[@themarquis336]

Matthew Bogdanos is a hero and quite the character. He could have his own art crime history show.

[@Mr_badjoke]

Nonono that's just a copy😊. ... You hide the real deal

[@jeffreyrichardson]

welchs jelly scene gunnys smart cookie marine laurie annes latrine

[@elizabethhurtado2829]

Amazing ❤

[@Beingnessing]

how long will the loot stay in locked rooms around the world?

[@M3Busssin]

Blonde CBS dude ends every sentence with turning the last word or two to a whisper

[@freddog5218]

americas largest museum has millions of items in storage the no one will ever see why not give them back.

[@PatriotTwin]

Most ppl don't realize this, but often when artifacts are "returned" to their home countries, they are lost or not properly guarded and stolen again--often by the very ppl paid to protect them. Often the home country does not have the space or ability to display or even properly store them. Ask yourself, is the home country capable of preserving and maintaining them for others to enjoy?

[@markforan4812]

There is merit what you write, but the argument is more often used by those who just want to hold on to what is not rightfully theirs. It’s pretty much understood that the Elgin Marbles were illegally removed from Greece to the British Museum. The British have argued for decades that they would return them if there were an appropriate place to keep them. Greece responded with a purpose-built museum for the Marbles. The Brits still hold on to them, after their argument was eliminated.

[@PatriotTwin]

@@markforan4812 I'm familiar w/ the story. Very large antiquities that are literally built into the building (think e.g. lahmasu at the Oriental Institute in Chicago) would require either removing a wing of a museum or reconstructing portions of the museum specifically built to showcase them. I can't agree that such items would be better off in their home country; wars and bombings have a habit of obliterating antiquities, not to mention some religious beliefs that command demolishing them. Have seen firsthand how smaller objects simply "disappear" when later researchers try to find them in storage. One local curator in a third world country admitted that artifacts tend to go missing; they have no guards, no real security system, and ppl think they will be easy to pawn off on the black market. Not saying that no one steals in industrialized countries, but there is more push to find and prosecute thieves who do.

[@greengold7440]

What about Africa?????

[@ashaaib]

*cough*British museum*cough*

[@jeffreyrichardson]

higgins armory 7 5

[@openminds8765]

Shame on the Getty for not stepping up, being honest, and doing an interview (albeit they did return three items). If you have nothing to hide than shine light into your organization. The Getty's past dealing sounds fishy to me...🐟🐠🐡

[@mafemartinez2235]

Do you know anything about Getty himself ?

[@openminds8765]

@@mafemartinez2235 Very little - enlightenment us???

[@henrylivingstone2971]

@@mafemartinez2235 An oil businessman once the richest man in the world who collected antiquities and art so what?

[@StrawB0ss]

This guy is great on camera.

[@alejandragrumbles8232]

Let’s start with Moctezuma’s headdress that Austria keeps refusing to return to it’s rightful owner: México 🇲🇽

[@TheGravygun]

youtube

[@jlasf]

But what happens to the current owner who unknowingly buys a piece with an illegal provenance? Objects may have gone from owner to owner - with no hint of an illegal past - for hundreds of years. The current owner loses possession with no restitution. Is that fair? Imagine paying $1,000,000 for a work of art that has a clear provenance - only for it to be seized now. That doesn't seem right either. I think the proper owner should have to reimburse the current owner for the appraised value, if the current owner bought the piece without subterfuge.

[@henrylivingstone2971]

The law only applies to artifacts taken after the year 1970 when the UN passed the resolution for the protection of cultural heritage. Also it only applies to artifacts that have been removed from the country after its heritage laws for example for Mexico it’s 1930, for Turkey it’s 1960. If it was looted or stolen before 1970 it’s fair game.

[@SweetieTarian]

This explains why the kardashians got banned from the met and Anna Wintours events

[@JWP452]

Every now and then CBS does great and interesting reporting.

[@royseibel511]

The British Museum is training soldiers in Archeological techniques in Iraq

[@rebeccamoore4177]

I would love to see First Nations and Native artifacts from National Parks be displayed at that park rather than in a museum far away. These items may be sitting in a drawer somewhere rather than being displayed insitu.

[@firsttimewatchingthehomest6054]

Yesterday's the past, tomorrow's the future, but today is a gift. That's why it's called the present. PS New York needs help

[@jeebsunabia7972]

Ha! Up next, the British Museum!

[@henrylivingstone2971]

They made a law in the 1960s that makes it illegal to return anything. They’re shitheads

[@amys2168]

Good for the Met willing to go on camera, but at the same time this is a superficial PR rehabilitation attempt. It's very well known that the Met has 'receipts' for their artifacts to meet the bare minimum standard to prove provenance, rather than asking questions and authenticating the provenance

[@reneemoreno8030]

Well done...uts about time that stolen artifacts are returned to their original cultures. Imagine all the gold Mexico would have?

[@garrett21]

Sad truth is a lot of artifacts would be destroyed if they had not been looted

[@MossyMozart]

@garrett21 - Not an excuse.

[@justin4360]

There was a peace treaty sent to my tribe back then but the us never delivered it to my tribe and one of our members stumbled upon it at an auction. Wasn’t given back he had to pay for it…

[@twilde3754]

Much of American Native art objects were stolen as well...no invoices there, either.

[@zeldasmith6154]

It's "plunder" and a major reason why leaders love war.

[@bthsr7113]

You're doing good work, Mr. Bogdanos.

[@CadetBoneSpurs]

Indiana Jones - “that belongs in the country of its origin,…not your museum!”

[@tishsmiddy71]

Thank you 🤟🏻💋

[@tishsmiddy71]

❤️💋

[@germinoma1]

If the crater is from Macedonia, why send it to Greece? Isn't there a country named Macedonia? Doesn't this reverse exactly what the whole episode is about?

[@alexandergalitevstudentfvh8696]

the macedonian empire was hellenic you fool.

[@lynnhubbard844]

better go back to history class

[@OhLookItsJonBoy]

One civilization's trash is another civilization's treasure.

[@MossyMozart]

@OhLook - NONE of those objects shown were "trash".

[@gedigi9010]

Wow !!!

[@davidgrabstald8141]

Nice! ❤

[@ragantate3995]

Say 90%

[@cndacecandler6351]

Ireland: Falun Dafa in St. Patrick’s Day Parades in Cork and Limerick A couple from China were both surprised and pleased to see the Falun Dafa entry. The husband commented that they would never see anything like that in China, where Falun Dafa practitioners are persecuted.

[@MossyMozart]

@Cndace Candler - Wrong video.

[@romstar]

Where are thieves going to do with one of a kind artifacts?🤔🙄 You can't sell them because eventually the works can be discovered as stolen even if you pass them down.

[@jonathanraithel5726]

Ethics have been in low supply in the antiquities market until recently. For a small example, look up Hobby Lobby and its acquisitions.

[@hamburgler227]

The unfortunate thing though, is that a lot less people will see that Egyptian coffin now and it’s probably one of very many in Egypt so that it’s hardly noteworthy. Same with the Italian stuff. Italy’s loaded with Italian art.

[@Goldenretriever-k8m]

yeah thats what i was thinkin, its kinda sad. like that vase in greece will just be another vase in greece of thousands upon thousands, but somewhere else it would be more exotic and appreciated. but that's up to greece to decide and sell it if they want.

[@MossyMozart]

@Hamburgler - Not an excuse to steal. What did your parents teach you? (You have 2 cars in your garage - you won't miss 1. And it will look SO GREAT parked in front of my building where so many people can admire it. So, don't call the cops on me!)

[@hamburgler227]

@@MossyMozart that’s such a terrible analogy. More like, you’re Jay Leno, and you have hundreds of cars. A couple were stolen many years ago, and you hardly even remember them. They’ve been benefitting other drivers, many many other drivers for all this time. But you can get them back just for yourself to enjoy, even though you prob won’t even, bc you’re busy driving the other hundreds that you own.

[@pamelamays4186]

This man is a legend! I can envision a Netflix series about him. Or, perhaps a Paramount series.😉

[@s.durbar1294]

damn bruh, everyone's getting shows made about them, soon that won't mean sh*t to have lmao AI can make your own sci-fi autobiography so one can pretend to future generations, having been eons more interesting than they actually were

[@lynnhubbard844]

@@s.durbar1294 huh? go back to school, "BRUH"

[@cloudchaser907]

“We’re the victims…” - the Met

[@realamerican5016]

They need to take a look at the British museum because it's full of artifacts that shouldn't be there.

[@GKP999]

In many museums in the Western world, there are stolen artifacts from Aftica, Asia and Oceania. 😢

[@GKP999]

@SD789 I am not your bro. Time does not excuse the crime of theft.

[@GKP999]

@SD789 Not in these cases, otherwise, there won't be this story.

[@paoloa.1821]

I think its time to return some cultural property of the Philippines that are excavated or looted in the archipelago, what you think? Some of which are in the museum in Europe and america

[@Goldenretriever-k8m]

its more than a bit scary to return art to places where ISIS or other violent cults have the power to destroy items is the only thing, so i hope nothing goes back to places where they are! other than that i hope these items continue to be treasured

[@booklover6403]

That depends a lot of African and Asian nations and most of Europe are totally stable and have museum that can care for them now when a few decades ago they couldn’t

[@sebastianmelmoth9100]

The Met women is being very disingenuous. The Met is sitting on many scores of items that have been claimed by foreign countries -- India, Cambodia, Nepal, Greece Colombia, etc. -- and that have shaky provenances yet it has done nothing proactively to examine them, or to check their paperwork, vet their sellers, and return them. They just sit around waiting for the DA or the feds to come in and tell them "hey it's illegal." Responsible museums examine their own collections and get ahead of the curve ethically and legally. The Met is not doing nearly enough.

[@fredbaumann3360]

How 'bout Bogdanos and, let's say the 18 people high-priced pros he commands do something on behalf of taxpaying New Yorkers being assaulted, poisoned and murdered at record rates in NYC in 2023, and leave the rare and therefore very well cared-for antiquities to take care of themselves? Besides, most well-to-do antiquities fanciers will relocate to other, less lawless states in the next few years anyway...

[@scottspaine4864]

ALL antiquities should be returned to their country of origion. Despite the fact the museums can trace the provenance, artifacts were looted and grave robbed by the people that discovered them and smuggled them out of their respective countires. How can the New York Museum of Art claim they have LEGALLY acquired these treasures when the origions of them are from other parts of the world and were intially stolen? Sadly, the only recovery that can't be made is the millions of dollars sellers received upon their sale.

[@henrylivingstone2971]

That’s stupid.

[@Dangic23]

So pretty much, every Museum in the US should be 99% empty

[@Pou1gie1]

Every western nation's museum, not just the US

[@bart234465]

I like this guy

[@ramiyazje]

United Arab Republic, that's when Egypt and my country (Syria) formed one entity (to the detriment of Syrians!)... Thankfully it didn't last 😅

[@Goldenretriever-k8m]

what happened, why was it to the detriment of Syrians?

[@jewslikefunk]

I wish a Bogdanos existed in Britain who would rightfully return all the stolen goods from India, South Asia and Caribbean.