Apulian Red-Figure Fish Plate
On August 29, 2023, the Michael C. Carlos Museum deaccessioned an Apulian red-figure fish plate (1986.015) for transfer to Italy after being presented with evidence that it had entered the antiquities trade from Gianfranco Becchina, who has been convicted in Italy of antiquities trafficking.
Acquisition Background
The object was purchased by a United States collector from Sotheby’s New York in 1983 and gifted to the museum in 1986.
Investigative Research
In June 2021, Italy’s Ministry of Culture presented the Carlos with photographs and consignment lists from the archive of convicted antiquities trafficker Gianfranco Becchina (the Becchina Archive). The paperwork showed the fish plate had been consigned to Sotheby’s using one of Becchina’s known aliases.
Decision
The Carlos agreed with the Italian Ministry of Culture that the fish plate likely came from illicit excavations and should be returned to Italy.
Featured Images
Red-Figure Fish Plate. Greek, Apulian. Late classical, 340-320 BCE. Ceramic. Gift of Mr. William Knight Zewadski. 1986.015.
Photograph of the plate from the Becchina Archive provided by the Italian Ministry of Culture.
Attic Black-Figure Band Cup
On August 29, 2023, the title for an Attic Black-Figure Band Cup (L2023.004.001, formerly 1990.004.001) was transferred to Italy by the Michael C. Carlos Museum after evidence showed it had entered the antiquities trade from Gianfranco Becchina, who has been convicted in Italy of antiquities trafficking.
Acquisition Background
The Carlos purchased the cup from Brian Aitken of Acanthus Gallery, New York in 1990. Aitken provided evidence at the time of purchase that the cup was previously with Palladion Antike Kunst, Basel and was published in their 1976 catalogue.
Investigative Research 
Palladion Antike Kunst was the Basel gallery run by convicted antiquities trafficker Gianfranco Becchina and his wife Ursula. In June 2021, Italy’s Ministry of Culture presented the Carlos with photographs and index cards showing the cup in the Becchina archive. Given Becchina’s criminal history and the fact that the Carlos could not determine where the cup was before it was with Palladion, there is a high probability the cup was looted.
Decision
The title has been transferred to the Italian Republic who has allowed the cup to remain on loan to the Carlos Museum.
Featured Images
Black-Figure Band Cup. Greek, Attic. C. 540-530 BCE. Ceramic. Loaned by the Italian Republic/Concesso in prestito dalla Repubblica Italiana. L2023.004.001.
Object information card from Becchina archive. Photograph provided by the Italian Ministry of Culture.
Apulian Red-Figure Volute-Krater
On August 29, 2023, the Michael C. Carlos Museum transferred the title of an Apulian red-figure volute-krater (L2023.004.002, formerly 1994.001) to Italy after being presented with evidence that it had been introduced on the antiquities market by Giacomo Medici, who has been convicted in Italy of antiquities trafficking.
Acquisition Background
When the krater was purchased in 1994, provenance information supplied to the museum indicated it had been in a Swiss private collection since the 1960s. The krater had been published by scholars and publicly exhibited before entering the museum’s collection.
Investigative Research
In June 2021, Italy’s Ministry of Culture presented the Carlos with two Polaroids from the archive of convicted antiquities trafficker Giacomo Medici (the Medici Archive) showing the krater. This prompted the Carlos to re-evaluate the provenance given at the time of purchase. The Carlos was able to confirm the Swiss private collector actually purchased the krater from Medici’s Galerie Hydra in Geneva, Switzerland, in the early 1980s.
Decision
The title has been transferred to the Italian Republic who has allowed the krater to remain on loan to the Carlos Museum.
Featured Images
olute-Krater with Story of Melanippe. Greek, Apulian. late Classical, ca. 330-323 BCE. Ceramic. Loaned by the Italian Republic/Concesso in prestito dalla Repubblica Italiana. L2023.004.002.
Polaroids of the object from the Medici Archive. Photographs provided by the Italian Ministry of Culture.
Laconian Cup
On August 29, 2023, the title for a Laconian cup (L2023.004.003, formerly 2003.008.019) was transferred to Italy after the Michael C. Carlos Museum was presented with evidence that it had entered the antiquities trade through Gianfranco Becchina, who has been convicted in Italy of antiquities trafficking.
Acquisition Background
The cup was purchased by the Carlos Museum from Palladion Antike Kunst in 2003. The cup had been known to scholars and published before the purchase.
Investigative Research 
Palladion Antike Kunst was the Basel gallery run by convicted antiquities trafficker Gianfranco Becchina and his wife Ursula. In June 2021, Italy’s Ministry of Culture presented the Carlos with a letter, photos, and index cards from the Becchina archive. The letter showed the cup had been in Becchina’s possession since at least 1988. Given Becchina’s criminal history and the fact that the Carlos could not determine where the cup was before it was with Palladion, there is a high probability the cup was looted.
Decision
The title has been transferred to the Italian Republic who has allowed the cup to remain on loan to the Carlos.
Featured Images
Cup with Musical Festival. Greek, Archaic. Ca. 570 BCE. Ceramic. Loaned by the Italian Republic/Concesso in prestito dalla Repubblica Italiana. L2023.004.003.
Object information card from the Becchina archive. Photographs provided by the Italian Ministry of Culture.
Plate Fragment
On August 29, 2023, the Michael C. Carlos Museum deaccessioned a plate fragment (2005.026.001) for transfer to Italy after being presented with evidence that it had likely come from illicit excavations.
Acquisition Background
The fragment was purchased by the museum from Sotheby’s New York in 2005. It was reported to have been in private collections in the United States since 1976.
Investigative Research 
In June 2021, Italy’s Ministry of Culture presented the Carlos with photographic evidence that the Carlos fragment joins with two other fragments from the same plate. One fragment, currently housed in the Museo Nazionale Archeologico della Sibaritide, was unearthed during official excavations at the Timpone della Motta Sanctuary in Francavilla Marittima. The second fragment was returned to Italy from a European museum following evidence it had come from illegal excavations at Timpone della Motta.
Decision
Reuniting the plate fragments was a priority for both the Carlos and the Italian Ministry of Culture.
Featured Images
Wild Goat Style Plate Fragment with Water Birds and Palmette. Greek, Archaic. 6th Century BCE. Ceramic. Carlos Collection of Ancient Art. 2005.026.001.
Reconstruction image showing joins. Photograph provided by the Italian Ministry of Culture.
