A bronze Hellenistic era Roman breastplate has been withdrawn from an antiquities auction in New York due to doubts about its provenance, Christie's said Monday.
Among others, the piece of armor allegedly passed through the hands of notorious Cosa Nostra-linked Swiss-based Sicilian antiques dealer Gianfranco Becchina, who has been convicted of illegally trafficking looted items from tomb raiders and others.
The artifact is currently part of the collection of British collector Christian Levett, the largest private collection in the world.
photo: Dancing Satyr, which late superboss Matteo Messina Denaroallegedly ordered Becchina to steal
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA