Belgian family brought stolen valuable artifact from Pompeii: parquet has finished research (Herzele)
« This is the souvenir that we brought from Pompeii at the time, » Geert told De Temmerman in 2023 when he showed us the Artefact that was discovered in his parents’ villa. However, the piece of marble that the family brought from a journey turned out not to be souvenir, but an original artifact of invaluable value, and already 2,000 years old. It had been without a trace for 50 years. Stolen on an archaeological site, but the Flemish family did not know that.
The special story behind the marble stone with a scene of the earthquake in Pompeii in 62 AD came to light after the Temmerman had contacted the Gallo-Roman Museum in Tongeren. Because, in his own words, he was « curious about its value ».
Because his father moved to an apartment, he was not sure what to do with the marble stone that was bricked into the hall of the parental villa. Specialists from the Gallo-Roman Museum quickly discovered that it was on the list of stolen historical art objects.
De Steen hung in the house in Herzele for more than 50 years. – © Chris Bosseloo
The family used to travel often and it was on one of those trips that they bought the piece from a street vendor. They brought the ‘holiday souvenir’ in the car from Pompeii to Herzele.
Criminal
The day after the two experts from the Gallo-Roman Museum had seen the piece, Geert De Temmerman already received police at the door, a few days later the public prosecutor opened an investigation of East Flanders. This led to « criminal seizure of the Artifact in the context of the ongoing investigation in 2024, » says the public prosecutor’s office now.
« For this Liège it was now decided to dismiss the file for the decline of the criminal claim. The father of the family, who bought the Artefact at the time and brought it to our country, died. Badens The son is insufficient evidence for healing and descending seized goods, » says Lisa de Wildet of East Flanders. In other words, nobody is being prosecuted. But the marble work is lost. Without reimbursement. It was professionally removed before the villa was sold.
Freezing order
The Artefact is currently in the Gallo-Roman Museum in Tongeren. And it must remain there until further notice. « There is currently a freezing warrant that, at the request of the Italian authorities, was imposed by the investigating judge in Limburg, » said the public prosecutor.
It is now up to the Italian authorities to see what will happen to the Artefact. Perhaps it goes back to Pompeii after more than 50 years.
« In the meantime, it is in the museum’s depot. For the sake of clarity, visitors cannot see it, » says ships An Christiaens van Tongeren-Borgloon
