ISTANBUL, May 14 (NNN-ANADOLU) – Turkish police, on Wednesday, seized several valuable historical artefacts, at an operation in an auction house in central Istanbul, local media reported.
Police teams captured a total of 78 artefacts that belonged to the Seljuk, Ottoman, and Safavid eras in the auction house, at the upscale Nisantasi neighbourhood, on the European side of the city, according to the Sozcu daily.
Several terracotta bowls, dated back to 800 years ago, were among the seized pieces, belonging to the Seljuk period, the daily said, noting that, they were so precious and could not even be found in museums.
Police also found some ceramic samples of Turkey’s northwestern region, a 170 cm long stained glass from the Ottoman Empire era, and Safavid period helmets.
The owner of the house was detained for obtaining the artifacts illegally, the daily added.
