Greek vase ‘looted’ in Italy removed from sale by London gallery

An expert in looted antiquities found photo that appears to show this Greek amphora in the hands of Giacomo Medici, a convicted smuggler. Photograph: Courtesy of Dr Christos Tsirogiannis

A London antiquities dealer has withdrawn an ancient Greek amphora from sale after evidence arose that links it to a notorious smuggler.

The Kallos Gallery in Mayfair, London, has removed a black-figure amphora – a jar with two handles and a narrow neck made around 550BC – from sale after the Observer contacted it about concerns raised by an expert in the illegal trade of antiquities.