London (Parliament Politics Magazine) – The Kallos Gallery withdrew a Greek vase from sale after an expert revealed its connection to Giacomo Medici, likely looted from Italy.
As reported by The Guardian, after evidence surfaced linking a Greek amphora to a notorious smuggler, a London antiquities dealer removed it from sale.
Which gallery removed an ancient Greek vase due to smuggling concerns?
The Kallos Gallery in London’s Mayfair has taken down a black-figure amphora from sale. The decision followed concerns raised by an expert about its potential link to the illicit antiquities trade.
Expert links looted Greek amphora to smuggler at London gallery
Evidence revealed by Dr Christos Tsirogiannis indicated that the amphora probably came from an illicit excavation in Italy.
The amphora, displayed at Tefaf Maastricht, was tied to Giacomo Medici through a Polaroid picture, found in an archive seized by Italian police. Medici was convicted in 2004 for smuggling stolen artefacts.
At 23.6cm in height, the amphora features decorations of sphinxes, a ram, and a lion. It is attributed to the Phineus Painter, named after a cup he decorated.
Suspicious Greek amphora pulled from Kallos Gallery
Mr Tsirogiannis raised concerns after the gallery’s collecting history dated back to 1986, suggesting the jar could have been part of an illicit excavation.
He further pointed out that the provenance included a gallery once owned by a dealer. This dealer had been convicted in the 1970s for receiving stolen Italian antiquities.
An affiliated archaeology lecturer at Cambridge, Tsirogiannis leads illicit antiquities trafficking research for UNESCO’s cultural heritage program at Ionian University in Corfu. He gained access to thousands of images and archival material with support from the late Paolo Giorgio Ferri, an Italian prosecutor who investigated antiquities smugglers.
What did Madeleine Perridge say about removing the artwork from sale?
Madeleine Perridge, director of the Kallos Gallery, stated, “We make every effort to do our due diligence and publish all collection and publication history known to us … The artwork in question has been immediately removed from sale pending advice from the relevant authorities.”
He added, “We have absolutely no interest in handling tainted artworks and welcome an opportunity to find practical and productive solutions to these complex issues.”
Tsirogiannis link the Medici objects to looted tombs in Italy
Over the years, Tsirogiannis has tracked several other Medici objects, most of which were returned to Italy. He stated, “Medici was acquiring items looted from tombs in Italy,” adding that he believes the amphora likely came from Etruscan tombs in Italy.
He has consistently argued that auction houses and dealers fail to conduct adequate checks with Greek and Italian authorities. Tsirogiannis has also criticized their lack of transparency in revealing the full collecting history of objects.
Kallos Gallery overview & historical incidents
- Established by Elias V. Kallos.
- Located in London.
- Specializing in Greek, Roman, Egyptian, and Near Eastern antiquities.
- Famous for authentic ancient artifacts, including sculptures, vases, and jewelry.
- Attended significant art fairs like The European Fine Art Fair and Masterpiece London.
- Several artifacts faced backlash over provenance, reflecting broader debates in the antiquities market.
- Kallos has faced scrutiny about looted or illegally exported artifacts.
- Presented rare pieces, including ancient Greek bronzes and Roman marble statues.
- Works with scholars to verify the authenticity and history of pieces.