MOLA
@museumofloot.bsky.social
Museum of Looted Antiquities is a virtual gallery that collects, displays and studies looted antiquities that have been repatriated since 1950 – and the trafficking networks behind them.
MuseumOfLoot.org
MuseumOfLoot.org
In the fictional world of the Relooted video game, art heists serve a higher purpose... The game follows a band of thieves who hold Western museums accountable for stalling on an agreement to repatriate objects believed to have been stolen from African countries.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/12/a...
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/12/a...
Grand Theft Artifact? A New Game Asks Players to Steal Stolen Art.
www.nytimes.com
February 12, 2026 at 11:54 PM
In the fictional world of the Relooted video game, art heists serve a higher purpose... The game follows a band of thieves who hold Western museums accountable for stalling on an agreement to repatriate objects believed to have been stolen from African countries.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/12/a...
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/12/a...
Learn more: mola.omeka.net/items/show/2...
Three Roman Heads from Butrint · Museum of Looted Antiquities
The Museum of Looted Antiquities collects, displays and studies ancient art and artifacts that have been repatriated to their countries of origin since 1950.
mola.omeka.net
February 3, 2026 at 9:55 PM
Learn more: mola.omeka.net/items/show/2...
Little is known about how the heads were smuggled out of Albania, but all three were eventually seized by Greek authorities. Once Albania confirmed that these were missing artifacts, the Greek Ministry of Culture repatriated the three heads to that country in 2003.
February 3, 2026 at 9:55 PM
Little is known about how the heads were smuggled out of Albania, but all three were eventually seized by Greek authorities. Once Albania confirmed that these were missing artifacts, the Greek Ministry of Culture repatriated the three heads to that country in 2003.
During moments of political unrest, looting can often break out, as with the case of the Archaeological Museum of Butrint in Albania. Three Roman heads were among the objects stolen from the museum following the fall of communist rule in the early 1990s.
February 3, 2026 at 9:55 PM
During moments of political unrest, looting can often break out, as with the case of the Archaeological Museum of Butrint in Albania. Three Roman heads were among the objects stolen from the museum following the fall of communist rule in the early 1990s.
New case: Three Roman Heads from Butrint, contributed by Michela Herbert
February 3, 2026 at 9:55 PM
New case: Three Roman Heads from Butrint, contributed by Michela Herbert
This relief made its way to Germany, but was later identified and repatriated to Afghanistan in 2012.
Learn more: mola.omeka.net/items/show/1...
Learn more: mola.omeka.net/items/show/1...
Gandharan Relief from Afghanistan's National Museum · Museum of Looted Antiquities
The Museum of Looted Antiquities collects, displays and studies ancient art and artifacts that have been repatriated to their countries of origin since 1950.
mola.omeka.net
February 1, 2026 at 10:01 PM
This relief made its way to Germany, but was later identified and repatriated to Afghanistan in 2012.
Learn more: mola.omeka.net/items/show/1...
Learn more: mola.omeka.net/items/show/1...
Only a portion of these antiquities have been returned, including this pre-Islamic relief. The sculpture depicts eight figures looking toward the Buddha. While many pre-Islamic artifacts were destroyed by the Taliban, others were smuggled out of the country and entered the international art market.
February 1, 2026 at 10:01 PM
Only a portion of these antiquities have been returned, including this pre-Islamic relief. The sculpture depicts eight figures looking toward the Buddha. While many pre-Islamic artifacts were destroyed by the Taliban, others were smuggled out of the country and entered the international art market.
New case: Gandharan Relief from Afghanistan's National Museum, contributed by Michela Herbert
During Afghanistan's civil war in the 1990s, nearly 70% of the National Museum's collection was destroyed or looted – around 70,000 objects.
During Afghanistan's civil war in the 1990s, nearly 70% of the National Museum's collection was destroyed or looted – around 70,000 objects.
February 1, 2026 at 10:01 PM
New case: Gandharan Relief from Afghanistan's National Museum, contributed by Michela Herbert
During Afghanistan's civil war in the 1990s, nearly 70% of the National Museum's collection was destroyed or looted – around 70,000 objects.
During Afghanistan's civil war in the 1990s, nearly 70% of the National Museum's collection was destroyed or looted – around 70,000 objects.
The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art is returning to the Indian government three bronzes after extensive provenance research indicated that the objects were removed from their original sites illegally
www.washingtonpost.com/entertainmen...
www.washingtonpost.com/entertainmen...
Smithsonian Asian art museum to return three stolen bronzes to India
The National Museum of Asian Art is returning three works to the Indian government after extensive research indicated they were illegally taken.
www.washingtonpost.com
January 28, 2026 at 8:35 PM
The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art is returning to the Indian government three bronzes after extensive provenance research indicated that the objects were removed from their original sites illegally
www.washingtonpost.com/entertainmen...
www.washingtonpost.com/entertainmen...
The tripod was recognized by the Carabinieri, who secured its return in 1996. The candelabrum remained at the Getty until 2005, after serving as evidence in the criminal case against Marion True.
Learn more: mola.omeka.net/items/show/2...
Learn more: mola.omeka.net/items/show/2...
Etruscan tripod · Museum of Looted Antiquities
The Museum of Looted Antiquities collects, displays and studies ancient art and artifacts that have been repatriated to their countries of origin since 1950.
mola.omeka.net
January 24, 2026 at 2:26 AM
The tripod was recognized by the Carabinieri, who secured its return in 1996. The candelabrum remained at the Getty until 2005, after serving as evidence in the criminal case against Marion True.
Learn more: mola.omeka.net/items/show/2...
Learn more: mola.omeka.net/items/show/2...
Swiss conservator Fritz Bürki arranged its shipment to the Getty with false paperwork. From there the items went to New York's Atlantis Antiquities, run by Robert Hecht and Jonathan Rosen, for sale to the Getty for $80,000 in 1990.
January 24, 2026 at 2:26 AM
Swiss conservator Fritz Bürki arranged its shipment to the Getty with false paperwork. From there the items went to New York's Atlantis Antiquities, run by Robert Hecht and Jonathan Rosen, for sale to the Getty for $80,000 in 1990.
Around the time of the transfer, the bronze tripod and candelabrum were stolen from the collection and sent to Geneva, where Getty curator Marion True was offered them in the warehouse of antiquities trafficker Giacomo Medici.
January 24, 2026 at 2:26 AM
Around the time of the transfer, the bronze tripod and candelabrum were stolen from the collection and sent to Geneva, where Getty curator Marion True was offered them in the warehouse of antiquities trafficker Giacomo Medici.
The Gugliemi Collection was amassed during official excavations of the Etruscan town of Vulci. Half of the 800 piece collection was given to the Vatican, while the other half remained with the Gugliemi family in 1987, when it also transferred to the Vatican.
January 24, 2026 at 2:26 AM
The Gugliemi Collection was amassed during official excavations of the Etruscan town of Vulci. Half of the 800 piece collection was given to the Vatican, while the other half remained with the Gugliemi family in 1987, when it also transferred to the Vatican.
New Case: A 5th c. BC Etruscan tripod. Contributed by Lisa Duffy-Zeballos.
The Getty Museum's 1996 repatriation of this bronze tripod shows how objects stolen from private collections at times passed through the illicit antiquities trade along with recently looted objects.
The Getty Museum's 1996 repatriation of this bronze tripod shows how objects stolen from private collections at times passed through the illicit antiquities trade along with recently looted objects.
January 24, 2026 at 2:26 AM
New Case: A 5th c. BC Etruscan tripod. Contributed by Lisa Duffy-Zeballos.
The Getty Museum's 1996 repatriation of this bronze tripod shows how objects stolen from private collections at times passed through the illicit antiquities trade along with recently looted objects.
The Getty Museum's 1996 repatriation of this bronze tripod shows how objects stolen from private collections at times passed through the illicit antiquities trade along with recently looted objects.
Six looted ancient Greek artifacts, including a marble sculpture that had been an offering at a now destroyed temple of Artemis in Piraeus, were repatriated Thursday from London following a long legal battle over the estate of trafficker Robin Symes
www.ekathimerini.com/culture/1293...
www.ekathimerini.com/culture/1293...
Repatriated Greek antiquities include Artemis relief from destroyed Piraeus sanctuary | eKathimerini.com
Six looted ancient Greek artifacts, including a marble sculpture that had been an offering at a now destroyed temple of Artemis in Piraeus, were repatriated Thursday from London following a long legal...
www.ekathimerini.com
January 22, 2026 at 8:35 PM
Six looted ancient Greek artifacts, including a marble sculpture that had been an offering at a now destroyed temple of Artemis in Piraeus, were repatriated Thursday from London following a long legal battle over the estate of trafficker Robin Symes
www.ekathimerini.com/culture/1293...
www.ekathimerini.com/culture/1293...
Reposted by MOLA
After a successful election, staff at the Metropolitan Museum of Art are officially unionized. The new union will represent workers across 50 departments, including curators, librarians, conservators, visitor experience, and archivists.
Met Museum Workers Are Officially Unionized
The new union will represent staff across 50 departments of the Manhattan institution.
hyperallergic.com
January 16, 2026 at 7:19 PM
After a successful election, staff at the Metropolitan Museum of Art are officially unionized. The new union will represent workers across 50 departments, including curators, librarians, conservators, visitor experience, and archivists.
Four more Zodiac heads from the fountain were likewise purchased and returned to China between 2003 and 2013. As of this writing, 5 of the 12 are still unaccounted for.
Learn more: mola.omeka.net/items/show/1...
Learn more: mola.omeka.net/items/show/1...
Old Summer Palace Zodiac Fountainheads: Ox, Monkey and Tiger · Museum of Looted Antiquities
The Museum of Looted Antiquities collects, displays and studies ancient art and artifacts that have been repatriated to their countries of origin since 1950.
mola.omeka.net
January 16, 2026 at 11:29 PM
Four more Zodiac heads from the fountain were likewise purchased and returned to China between 2003 and 2013. As of this writing, 5 of the 12 are still unaccounted for.
Learn more: mola.omeka.net/items/show/1...
Learn more: mola.omeka.net/items/show/1...
These three - representing the Ox, Monkey and Tiger - surfaced in 2000 at Christie's and Sotheby's auctions. Rather than contest the sales, China had a state-owned enterprise, China Poly Group Corp, pay USD $4m to acquire them.
January 16, 2026 at 11:29 PM
These three - representing the Ox, Monkey and Tiger - surfaced in 2000 at Christie's and Sotheby's auctions. Rather than contest the sales, China had a state-owned enterprise, China Poly Group Corp, pay USD $4m to acquire them.
The palace and its sculptural fountain were destroyed in 1860 by Anglo-French troops in retaliation for deaths during the Second Opium War. All twelve Zodiac heads that adorned the fountain were severed and spirited away.
January 16, 2026 at 11:29 PM
The palace and its sculptural fountain were destroyed in 1860 by Anglo-French troops in retaliation for deaths during the Second Opium War. All twelve Zodiac heads that adorned the fountain were severed and spirited away.
China has a history of recovering antiquities through purchases, as was the case with these three of the 12 zoomorphic fountainheads that once adorned the "water clock" fountain at the entrance of the Qing Dynasty Yuanmingyuan (Old Summer Palace) in Beijing.
January 16, 2026 at 11:29 PM
China has a history of recovering antiquities through purchases, as was the case with these three of the 12 zoomorphic fountainheads that once adorned the "water clock" fountain at the entrance of the Qing Dynasty Yuanmingyuan (Old Summer Palace) in Beijing.
New Case: The Ox, Monkey and Tiger Zodiacal fountainheads from the Old Summer Palace. Contributed by Jeff Tsai.
January 16, 2026 at 11:29 PM
New Case: The Ox, Monkey and Tiger Zodiacal fountainheads from the Old Summer Palace. Contributed by Jeff Tsai.
Who called them looted?
January 13, 2026 at 5:48 AM
Who called them looted?
I think your beef is with Macron, who signed this agreement. Others are just covering the news
January 12, 2026 at 8:38 PM
I think your beef is with Macron, who signed this agreement. Others are just covering the news
Read the entry: "In 2009, Mexico and France agreed for the codex to be on permanent loan to Mexico, requiring renewal every three years."
January 12, 2026 at 7:20 PM
Read the entry: "In 2009, Mexico and France agreed for the codex to be on permanent loan to Mexico, requiring renewal every three years."