Object Description
Greek Cycladic Spouted Bowl
Marble spouted bowl, dating to 2700-2200 B.C., originating from the Cycladic islands in Greece, probably from Paros.
Identification Date
06 Sep 2021
Identification Location
Michael Steinhardt Private Collection
Artefact History
Before 1997
Two Polaroid images in the archive confiscated from the antiquities dealer Giacomo Medici, depict the bowl on the pillows of a dark-green or brown sofa.One professional image depicts the same bowl in the Becchina archive. The name of the French singer Marie LaForet appears next to this image.
1997
Robin Symes and Christos Michaelides sold the bowl to the Beierwaltes collection in Colorado, US.
2006
The Beierwaltes couple consigned their entire collection, including the bowl, to the ‘Phoenix Ancient Art' gallery owned by the Aboutaam brothers.
Steinhardt acquires the bowl from ‘Phoenix Ancient Art’ gallery for $500,000.
September 6-8, 2021
Tsirogiannis, on the request of the Manhattan DA’s Office, identifies the bowl from the Medici and Becchina images and sends all the evidence to the Manhattan DA’s Office.
December 2021
In December 2021, the Manhattan DA’s Office announces the seizure of 180 objects from the Steinhardt collection, among which the Cycladic spouted bowl.
Artefact Status
February 2022
In December 2021, the Manhattan DA’s Office announced that the bowl will be repatriated to Greece. The repatriation took place in February 2022.