Metropolitan Museum returns capital with head of Archangel Michael to Turkey
December 10, 2025 | In the PressFrom Finestre sull' Arte (https://www.finestresullarte.info/en/ancient-art/metropolitan-museum-returns-capital-with-head-of-archangel-michael-to-turkey)
A marble capital depicting Archangel Michael, one of the most remarkable examples of late Byzantine art, has been returned by the United States to Turkey. The official announcement of the return was released by Turkey’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism, stressing the historical and artistic importance of the work, dated to the late 13th century, which represents a rare testimony to the sculptural and decorative practices of late Byzantine workshops.
Studies and records indicate that the capital belonged to the Virgin Mary Monastery of Peribleptos, located in Istanbul’s Samatya district. The attribution is based on a combination of sources, including reports of unauthorized excavations and structural damage that occurred in the 1960s, as well as a petition from the time that pointed to the removal of fragments from the building. Analysis of the style and writing of the work confirmed its provenance from the monastery, clarifying that the object had been illegally removed from the building. According to records, the capital had entered the Metropolitan Museum’s collection in 1983 through networks linked to Robin Symes, already involved in international investigations into illicit trafficking in artifacts. The work depicts the Archangel Michael in imperial robes, holding a sphere and staff, and illustrates the precision and skill of late Byzantine workshops, providing a rare physical clue to the decoration of religious buildings of the period.
The return was made possible through a collaboration between the Metropolitan Museum, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Manhattan, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations and Turkish authorities. Prior to the handover, the capital was on display for three months at the Met, a symbolic fact since it represents one of the rare displays of a Turkish work in the museum after more than two decades. The Turkish government has welcomed developments related to the Metropolitan’s ability to conduct research on the provenance of works, improve inspection processes and increase transparency. The return ceremony, coordinated with the Manhattan prosecutor, also included the return of other artifacts, including a monumental bronze statue stolen from the ancient city of Boubon in Burdur, archaic terracotta tablets, and a Romanmarble head of Demosthenes. These works are in addition to 28 cultural goods returned earlier in the year.
