Unmasking the Market
with Jason Felch | Hosted by Deborah Lehr
December 4, 2025
Understanding the Thriving Trade in Looted Antiquities, Episode #6
In episode six of Understanding the Thriving Trade in Looted Antiquities — a Tholos Talks series that explores the global repercussions of the antiquities trade — Deborah speaks with Jason Felch, investigative journalist and co-author of Chasing Aphrodite, the landmark exposé that revealed how major museums knowingly acquired looted artifacts.
The conversation examines how stolen cultural heritage moves from conflict zones into respected collections, the systemic challenges that allow this trade to persist, and what accountability looks like in a market built on centuries of exploitation. Jason also shares insights from his latest project, the Museum of Looted Antiquities, and his upcoming collaboration with the Antiquities Coalition to create more transparent systems of responsibility.
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About Our Guest
Jason Felch is an author, investigator, and expert on the black market in looted antiquities. He began investigating the illicit antiquities trade in 2005 as an investigative reporter at the Los Angeles Times. In 2006, he was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in Investigative Reporting for exposing the role of the J. Paul Getty and other American museums in the illicit trade. In 2011, he co-authored Chasing Aphrodite: The Hunt for Looted Antiquities at the World’s Richest Museum, which was awarded the California Book Award. Since then, Felch continues to write about the antiquities trade on his blog, ChasingAphrodite.com, where he documents ties between the black market and major museums, galleries, and auction houses. In 2024, he launched the Museum of Looted Antiquities (MOLA), a virtual gallery that collects, displays, and studies looted artifacts that have been repatriated since 1950. MOLA is a project of the Achilles Research Group, a non-profit research organization where Felch serves as co-director. Felch has given talks on antiquities trafficking at UNODC, ASEAN, and numerous museums and universities. He regularly contributes to research efforts, media coverage, and documentary films about the illicit antiquities trade as an expert.
About Our Host
Deborah Lehr is the CEO of Basilinna, a strategic advisory firm, and founder and Chair of the Antiquities Coalition. She has spoken globally on issues related to cultural heritage. Previously...read the full bio here.
About Tholos Talks
Tholos Talks is a series following the spirit of the tholos circle, where Ancient Greek intellectuals gathered to debate the issues of the day. Through deep insight and thought-provoking dialogue, we offer the tools to decode complexity and illuminate the path forward.
Tholos Talks is hosted by the Basilinna team and is produced by the Basilinna Institute.
Published by Basilinna Institute. All rights reserved.