$69M worth of looted artifacts seized from Met trustee, including museum loans.
A Trustee’s Collection: Seized Artifacts and Controversy
In a stunning turn of events, an 84-year-old emeritus trustee of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, Shelby White, has had nearly $70 million worth of looted artifacts seized from her possession over the past two years. The investigation, conducted by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office’s Antiquities Trafficking Unit, has raised questions about the origins of these artifacts and the role of White and her late husband, investor Leon Levy, in acquiring them.
According to a report from The New York Times, 71 looted artifacts were seized from White’s Manhattan apartment, with an additional 17 artifacts loaned to the museum also being seized under suspicion of theft. The seized items include a bronze statuette of Roman emperor Lucius Verus, valued at $15 million, which belongs to Turkey. Another notable artifact was a seventh-century Chinese funerary artifact that still contained dirt, indicating its previous looting. This artifact has since been returned to China. Other seized items include a mixing bowl and an amphora from the sixth century B.C., among many others.
Despite the controversy surrounding White’s collection, the Met has not distanced itself from her. White and Levy had donated approximately $20 million to the organization, and in 2007, the museum unveiled the Leon Levy and Shelby White Court, which is described as the centerpiece of the Met’s Greek and Roman galleries. White continues to be involved in various committees at the museum, offering advice and expertise.
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