Centuripe Pyxis returns to Sicily after 30 years in Netherlands

The Centuripe Pyxis, a precious terracotta vessel dating back to the 3rd century BC, has returned to Sicily after nearly 30 years. The artifact, which features a lid decorated with a wedding scene, was voluntarily returned by the Allard Pierson Museum at the University of Amsterdam.

The museum had originally purchased the piece from a Swiss art dealer in 1997. While the dealer claimed the item came from a private Swiss collection predating the 1970 UNESCO Convention, documentation lacked export licenses or definitive proof of origin. Following a restitution request from Sicilian authorities in 2017 and investigations involving historical photographs, the museum decided to return the artifact.

Francesco Paolo Scarpinato, the Sicilian regional assessor for Cultural Heritage, described the return as a “passage of great generosity and responsibility” that strengthens collaboration between the Netherlands and Sicily. The Pyxis will be permanently exhibited at the Regional Museum of Centuripe in the province of Enna.