Ancient Antiques Seized From Manhattan Billionaire’s Home

MANHATTAN, NY — Investigators on Friday raided the office and Upper East Side apartment of billionaire Michael Steinhardt and seized several works of ancient art, according to a search warrant reviewed by Patch. Steinhardt is a hedge-fund manager, philanthropist and noted art collector. He has a gallery named for him at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

The New York Times first reported the raid.

Steinhardt had several ancient antiques in his office and apartment that date to as early as the seventh century B.C., according to the warrant. Among them were Proto-Corinthian figures that depict a duck and owl that both date from the sixth century B.C.; an Apulian terracotta flask from the fourth century B.C.; and a Greek white-ground oil vessel from the fourth century B.C.

The artifacts are worth a total of $1.1 million, according to the warrant.

Steinhardt could not be reached for comment on Saturday, but he declined comment when reached by the Times on Friday. The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office declined to comment.

The seizure was the latest action by the antiquities-trafficking bureau of the Manhattan prosecutor’s office, which was created by District Attorney Cy Vance to return looted antiques to their original country.

In recent months, the office has seized and returned several other pieces of ancient art, including a mosaic from a ship owned by the Roman Emperor Caligula.

Steinhardt bought the works that were seized on Friday from William and Lynda Beierwaltes, the Times reported, citing a law enforcement official familiar with the investigation. The Beierwaltes bought the works from Robin Symes, an art dealer based in London, according to the report.

Photo credit: New York District Attorney's Office