Italian art detectives have traced a stolen ancient vase and plate to Australia, finding the artifacts at a university museum which unwittingly bought them from a 1984 Sotheby's auction.

The Australian National University said Friday it was working with the "specialist art squad" of Italy's Carabinieri military police to return the priceless pieces.

Italy's government has agreed to loan the vase and the fish plate to the ANU until they are returned at a "future date."

The 2,500-year-old amphora depicts Greek champion Heracles fighting the mythical Nemean lion.

Museum curator Georgia Pike-Rowney described the vase dating back to 530 BC as a "stunning example" of ancient Mediterranean craftmanship.

Italian police discovered an old Polaroid photo of the Heracles vase while investigating an unnamed art thief, which led them to believe it had been illegally plundered before it was sent to Australia.

Meanwhile, the stolen red fish plate from the Italian region of Apulia was initially trace to David Holland Swingler who smuggle to the United States artifacts sourced from tomb robbers by hiding it under piles of pasta and other Italian foods.

WITH AFP