The Department of Antiquities of the Deputy Ministry of Culture announces that on June 23, 2026, a Cypriotwhich was found to be offered for sale on April 6, 2026, in an online auction by officialsofficials of the Department of Antiquities responsible for monitoring the illegal trade in Cypriot antiquities online and was withdrawn following communication with the auction house.

The item in question is a proto-vase with a ring-shaped base I from the Late Cypriot I/II period (circa 1450 B.C.).

The Department of Antiquities expresses its gratitude to the auction house Halls Fine Art Auctioneers and the owner of the artifact for voluntarily returning it to its country of origin, as well as to the Cultural Section of the Cypriot High Commission in London for its cooperation and coordination of the repatriation process.