The arrogance of the artsy elites

Investigators seize $69M worth of stolen artifacts bought by Met trustee Shelby White

https://nypost.com/2023/07/19/investigators-seize-69m-worth-of-stolen-artifacts-from-met-trustee/

Manhattan investigators have seized $69 million worth of stolen artifacts bought over the years by a major Metropolitan Museum of Art trustee and art collector, according to a report.

In the past two years, 89 artifacts from the collection of prominent New York philanthropist Shelby White, 84, were confiscated by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office’s special Antiquities Trafficking Unit after they were deemed to have originally been looted, the office revealed in April. 

White, the widow of legendary financier Leon Levy, has cooperated with authorities, who have not said she or her late husband knew the pieces were stolen before they were purchased. 

The majority of the items were taken from White’s massive collection on display inside her swanky Sutton Place apartment, but some 17 antiquities were removed from the Met itself as White had loaned them to the prestigious museum, the New York Times reported.

Shelby White, 84, was forced to turn over nearly 90 historical art pieces after investigators determined they were looted from the origin countries. 

Getty Images

One of the most valuable historical art pieces reportedly looted before being purchased by White is worth a whopping $15 million alone.

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By 

Allie Griffin

July 19, 2023 12:03am 

 Updated