Artwork Returned to Iraq: Artifact taken during Iraq Museum looting two decades ago

Investigators suspect that the Carlos Museum acquired the artifact in 2006 from a third party, based on a falsified provenance claiming that the artifact had been in the U.S. since 1969. Agents consulted experts, including one who had photos showing the item in the Iraq Museum in 1983, and representatives from the Penn Museum at the University of Pennsylvania, who assisted in verifying the artifact's authenticity

Salwan Sinjaree, the chargé d'affaires at the Embassy of the Republic of Iraq, accepted the return of the small ivory figure on behalf of the Republic of Iraq. Archaeologists believe the artifact, which stands only 2 1/4 inches tall and 1 1/2 inches wide, dates back 2,700 years.

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This week, the FBI returned an artifact to the government of Iraq that is believed to have been looted during the plundering of the Iraq Museum in Baghdad in 2003.

The item, known as “Furniture Fitting with Sphinx Trampling a Youth,” is approximately 2,700 years old, according to archaeologists. The ivory figure, measuring just 2 1/4 inches tall and 1 1/2 inches wide, is decorated with pigment and gold leaf. It was displayed at the Michael C. Carlos Museum at Emory University in Atlanta until FBI special agents in the Boston and Atlanta field offices determined that the artifact rightfully belonged to Iraq.

“We are glad our agents could return a small part of history back to where it belongs in Iraq,” said Keri Farley, special agent in charge of FBI Atlanta. The piece is believed to be the first relic looted from the Iraq Museum in Baghdad to be found in a United States museum collection.

“FBI Boston is extremely proud to have played a role in helping to recover it,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, the division’s special agent in charge. “This case represents our ongoing commitment to pursue justice for victims of art crime here and abroad and to rectify such losses to the historical record.”

Investigators suspect that the Carlos Museum acquired the artifact in 2006 from a third party, based on a falsified provenance claiming that the artifact had been in the U.S. since 1969. Agents consulted experts, including one who had photos showing the item in the Iraq Museum in 1983, and representatives from the Penn Museum at the University of Pennsylvania, who assisted in verifying the artifact's authenticity. Following a yearlong investigation involving agents in Boston, Atlanta, and the FBI's specialized Art Crime Team Unit, the museum surrendered the artifact to the FBI in December last year.

“FBI Atlanta is honored to have the opportunity to do its part by returning this important piece of cultural heritage to the people of Iraq,” said Special Agent Rafael Jimenez, who worked on the case. “The FBI is also grateful to the Michael C. Carlos Museum for its cooperation in this matter.”

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During a ceremony on March 8 at the Iraqi Embassy in Washington D.C., a special agent from the Art Crime Team handed over the artifact to the embassy for repatriation. The ceremony, which involved representatives from the U.S. Department of State and Homeland Security Investigations, took place after a conference at the embassy focused on enhancing international collaboration in the repatriation of stolen artifacts.

“I appreciate always all the efforts from the U.S. law enforcement agencies,” said Salwan Sinjaree, the chargé d'affaires, or chief of mission, at the Embassy of the Republic of Iraq. Sinjaree formally received the artifact in a brief signing ceremony at the embassy and said he looked forward to more cooperation in the future.

Jake Archer, a special agent with the FBI's Art Crime Team who handed over the artifact to Sinjaree, credited the successful repatriation to the efforts of agents in Boston and Atlanta, as well as the assistance of experts and partners both in the U.S. and abroad. He emphasized the FBI's ongoing commitment to combatting the illegal trade of stolen art and antiquities, stating that the Bureau will continue to investigate such crimes and seek justice for both offenders and victims despite facing numerous other priorities.

The FBI's Art Crime Team was formed in 2004, partly in response to the looting in Baghdad two decades ago. Comprising agents from various field offices nationwide, the team is well-versed in all facets of art, including its history and the art market. The Art Crime Team Unit at FBI Headquarters oversees the National Stolen Art File, which contains information on stolen art and cultural property provided by agencies worldwide.

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