The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) has deaccessioned and returned 44 works of ancient art, following an investigation by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office and US Department of Homeland Security. The museum announced details of the investigation and its outcome on 5 December, detailing the institution’s cooperation throughout a six-month investigation.
The District Attorney’s investigation began in May of 2023 with a request for documentation for 28 objects in the VMFA’s collection, but grew after “photographs related to sales receipts, invoices and bills of sale; shipping and storage records; import and export documents; consignment agreements; appraisal documentation; provenance and provenance research; catalogues, brochures and marketing materials; and any correspondence” provided evidence for another 29 objects to be examined for potential ties to looting and trafficking, according to the institution.