Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2009
| Subscribe to Newser's RSS feeds RSS | Follow Newser on Twitter Twitter


1

US to Return $10M Stolen Art Stash to Italy

'Treasure trove' of looted antiques uncovered in Chicago home

Share

(Newser) – A huge stash of stolen artifacts found in a Chicago home will be returned to Italy by US authorities, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. The artifacts—including letters written by kings and popes, and Etruscan works thousands of years old—were discovered by the homeowner's heirs after his death, and are believed to have been looted from private Italian collections.

"There was stuff all over the house in boxes. The most valuable from the Vatican was on the second floor in the attic," said the local police chief.  "It just goes to show you, you never know what you'll find in a bungalow." Investigators from the FBI and the Italian government believe the collection is worth up to $10 million.

A Daunia Vase, part of a collection of millions of dollars worth of stolen manuscripts and other antiquities, found in a suburban home, is displayed at FBI headquarters in Chicago.
A Daunia Vase, part of a collection of millions of dollars worth of stolen manuscripts and other antiquities, found in a suburban home, is displayed at FBI headquarters in Chicago.   (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)
This handwritten Crest Doctorial Diploma dated Dec. 13, 1662 from the University of Naples is part of the collection uncovered in the home of a Chicago collectibles dealer.
This handwritten Crest Doctorial Diploma dated Dec. 13, 1662 from the University of Naples is part of the collection uncovered in the home of a Chicago collectibles dealer.   (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)
The national art theft program manager for the FBI displays terracotta figurines from the 4th century BC found in a suburban Chicago home.
The national art theft program manager for the FBI displays terracotta figurines from the 4th century BC found in a suburban Chicago home.   (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
OFF THE GRID
11.24.09
Murdoch and Microsoft: The Mice Are Trying to Roar
11.23.09
Books Are Bad for You
1 comment
VIEWING:
 
SBS
Jun 9, 09 5:05 PM CDT
How did he get this stuff? Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
0
LEAVE A
COMMENT Comment Policy
Facebook ConnectPost this comment to Facebook?

After connecting you will have the option to post your comment on your Facebook profile.

 

Related Newser Stories

79 Stories

 Chicago Suburb Tops 
 Best Family Towns 


Best spots to raise kids boast good schools, low crime

Nov 20, 09 1:24 AM CST
(Newser) - BusinessWeek has combed the US for the best places to raise a family and has come up with a Chicago suburb to top the rankings again. The rest of the list, based on factors that include education, crime rate, cultural vitality, and air quality, is broken down by state.... More »

MORE ABOUT:
education • Microsoft • parenting • Chicago • Boston • list • Illinois • small towns • Portland, Maine • affordable • Tinley Park, Ill. • Arcadia, Calif. • Great Falls, Mont. • Redmond, Wash. • Malmstrom AFB • Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanical Garden

bottoms up

 Town Fights 
 Public Boozing 
 With Warm Beer 

Hope is drinkers won't crack a can on the street if it's not frosty

Oct 23, 09 11:10 AM CDT
(Newser) - Arlington Heights, Ill., is tackling its public drinking problem with a novel weapon: beer. Warm beer. Starting in January, stores won't sell single-serving bottles or cans of beer cold. You can still buy that tallboy, but the town is betting problem drinkers will be less likely to crack open... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Chicago • alcoholism • beer • drinking • homeless • Illinois • public drinking • alcoholic • Arlington Heights

 Fresco Clue 
 Launches Hunt 
 for Lost Da Vinci 

Artist's greatest work may be hidden behind palace fresco

Oct 20, 09 4:15 AM CDT
(Newser) - Like a mystery straight from the Da Vinci Code, an Italian palace fresco harbors a clue pointing to the existence of a hidden masterpiece, claims an art expert. Now Italian professor Maurizio Seracini has been granted permission to seek the painting considered Leonardo da Vinci's greatest work. Seracini believes the... More »

MORE ABOUT:
art • Italy • Da Vinci Code • Palazzo Vecchio • Florence • Leonardo da Vinci • masterpiece

79 Stories


'Treasure trove' to be repatriated
Chicago Tribune


US  •  Crime & Courts  •  World 
TwitterFollow @NewserUS on Twitter

 
Chicago • art • theft • Italy • Illinois • artifacts • antique

from our news partners