The Central State Museum in Almaty, Kazakhstan, is displaying a collection of rare works of art, weapons, and jewelry that the government had taken possession of.
From Fabergé Eggs To A 16th-Century Handwritten Koran, Kazakhstan Exhibits Its Confiscated Treasures
Several rare Fabergé eggs were on display at the Central State Museum in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on September 7.
The exhibit -- titled National Heritage: The Basis Of Spirituality -- was presented to the public, featuring antiques, rare works of art, weapons, and jewelry that were confiscated by the state.
A 19th-century Turkish dagger
Many of the seized items were brought illegally to Kazakhstan through auctions in the United States and Great Britain. Several people involved in the procurement of these objects received prison sentences, while others have been put on international wanted lists.
Many of the museum's visitors were attracted to the Fabergé eggs, which were placed inside a protective glass case.
The jewel-encrusted eggs were created by the jewelry firm House of Fabergé in St. Petersburg, Russia. Virtually all were manufactured under the supervision of Peter Carl Fabergé between 1885 and 1917. It is believed that 69 were created, of which 57 survive.
A miniature Koran
The artifacts were confiscated by the Department of Economic Investigations.
A Jewish scroll whose provenance is unknown was also presented.
A closer look at one of the paintings, The Violinist, by the 17th-century Dutch artist Gerard Dau, considered one of Rembrandt's most talented students. Dau often painted small paintings on everyday subjects in the tradition of Renaissance artists.
Portrait Of A Man by Nikolai Khludov, an artist who lived and worked in Almaty in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He dedicated many of his paintings to the steppe life of the Kazakhs.
The exhibition also featured recovered works by Kazakh artists such as Aisha Galimbaeva, Zhanatay Shardenov, and Salikhiddin Aitbaev.
The exhibition also featured recovered works by Kazakh artists such as Aisha Galimbaeva, Zhanatay Shardenov, and Salikhiddin Aitbaev.
Museum visitors look at a chess set made of gold and silver.
A 17th- or 18th-century helmet from Central Asia was also displayed.
Sitting atop a wooden chest made in France at the end of the 20th century is a 19th-century clock made of bronze and onyx.
Several Orthodox icons, such as this 18th-century icon, were also displayed.
A Japanese netsuke figurine made of ivory, most likely from the mid-20th century.
Originating in the 17th century, initially as a simply carved button fastener, netsuke later developed into ornately sculpted objects that were prized for their craftmanship.
A handwritten Koran, which experts date to the 16th century
The global market for stolen and plundered antiquities is estimated by Interpol -- the international police organization -- to be between $4 billion and $5 billion annually.