New York art dealer Helen Fioratti unknowingly used an ancient Roman mosaic as a coffee table.
Italian stone expert Dario Del Bufalo said Fioratti spotted the mosaic in his book and said she owned it.
The mosaic was commissioned by Roman emperor Caligula for one of his large party ships.
A geometric mosaic from one of Roman emperor Caligula's lavish party ships was being used by a New York City art dealer as a coffee table in her Park Avenue residence, The Guardian reported.
"There was a lady with a young guy with a strange hat that came to the table, and he told her, 'What a beautiful book.
Following its return, the mosaic was put on display at the Museum of Roman Ships in Nemi, Italy, the Associated Press reported.
Still, Del Bufalo said he sympathizes with Fioratti's loss of her coffee table and offered to make her a replica. »