http://museum-security.org/
NOVEMBER 10 - 13, 1997
CONTENTS:
QUERY: Automatic Sprinkler Supression Systems
Differences stall art negotiations; Authorities at odds with duo on return of Gardner works
Full system-integration with " Universal SupervisorT"
NPCA TO SCRUTINIZE GETTYSBURG MUSEUM PROPOSAL IN EFFORT TO PROTECT PARK INTEGRITY
Re: Art Fraud? - Lessons from the Denney Collection
Cincinnati drops charge that Yoko Ono art was vandalized
Thieves steal Cambodia's ancient treasures of Angkor
EU rules threaten London art market
American Civil War relics stolen in Philadelphia
Prince's jewels stolen by Italian cat burglar ( including a pair of 18-carat yellow gold Faberge cufflinks once owned by Tsar Nicholas II of Russia)
Art Theft, WWII and Museum Ethics
Many antiques stolen from dealers found at one dealer's home (Shops and auction houses have been hit. Chris G. Ritter is charged with receiving stolen property).
robbery victims identify Bensalem man as assailant (Two said Bruce C. Irwing of Bensalem was part of a trio that stole antiques from them).
From: "Ken Vail" <kenmtb1@email.msn.com>
To: <securma@museum-security.org>
Subject: Automatic Sprinkler Supression Systems
Date sent: Sun, 9 Nov 1997 23:38:23 -0500
I would appreciate feedback about any museums that have recently decided to install - or are considering installing - automatic sprinkler protection in fine arts storage, curatorial, work support, and/or conservation areas of museum facilities.
1. What was/is the motivating factor - life safety, property conservation, government regulation, insurance recommendation, internal risk management, or a combination of all or some of these factors? Which were/are the most important factors?
2. Have any facilities taken action to replace Halon systems with water based supression systems? If so, what objections surfaced among the staff (Registrar/Curator/Conservation/Administrative)?
3. What issues were faced with facility upgrades (such as the need for temporary storage of objects, contractor access control, supression system tests...)
4. How did the issue of "minimizing the maximum loss" factor into the decision? Were you willing to risk some minor damage to the possibility of leakage, to save the facility from being destroyed by fire or similar emergency?
5. What type of system(s) were specified (wet/dry/pre-action/deluge - combination)? Was smoke/heat detection integrated into the supression system?
6. Any other issues that were discovered to be important, that are not already mentioned above?
Thanks for your consideration.
Kenneth T. Vail
Differences stall art negotiations
Authorities at odds with duo on return of Gardner works
By Stephen Kurkjian, Globe Staff, 11/09/97
Federal authorities are still anxious to get the paintings back, and the two individuals who claim they can arrange it are still interested in negotiating, but there has been no significant progress for weeks toward the return of priceless artworks stolen from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. According to sources, although some headway has been made in clarifying the positions of the parties involved, serious differences remain on how to get negotiations started. The sources, who asked not to be identified, said that federal authorities led by US Attorney Donald Stern want to see how unrelated criminal charges against one of the two individuals, William P. Youngworth III of Randolph, are resolved before engaging in serious new discussions. Talks between Youngworth and authorities, which played out in a blizzard of headlines and television reports in July and August, broke down in September when neither side showed willingness to meet the other's demands. Stern said he was unwilling to engage in any talks until Youngworth and his associate, Myles T. Connor Jr., showed they had "concrete and specific" evidence that they had access to the stolen artwork. Youngworth and Connor provided, through intermediaries, photographs purportedly of two Rembrandt paintings stolen in the March 1990 heist, as well as particles of paint from the Rembrandts. However, they have been unwilling to show more proof until their demands that they be given immunity and the $5 million reward money are met. Some progress may be made later this week. Gardner officials are expected to announce the results of their analysis of the photographs, as well as possibly the paint chips. Youngworth has been in the Norfolk County House of Correction since September when he was found guilty of possession of a stolen motor vehicle. Since it was his third conviction on a major crime, Youngworth could be sentenced to the maximum 15-year term if he is found guilty of being a habitual offender under Massachusetts criminal laws. Martin Leppo, Youngworth's lawyer, has filed a motion to dismiss the habitual offender indictment, contending insufficient evidence to corroborate the charge was presented to the Norfolk grand jury that issued the indictment. A hearing on that motion is set for tomorrow. Both Youngworth and Connor, who is also in prison on unrelated charges, have told reporters and friends that unless authorities are willing to show more flexibility in dealing with them, they are prepared to stop cooperating. Leppo said he intends to speak to Assistant US Attorney Brien T. O'Connor seeking to avoid that possibility. While reports of a federal grand jury probing the case have surfaced in recent weeks, neither Youngworth nor Connor has been directed to testify so far, according to Leppo. If the two refused to provide information under a grant of immunity, they could be sentenced to eighteen months in jail for contempt of court.
This story ran on page B04 of the Boston Globe on 11/09/97. © Copyright 1997 Globe Newspaper Company.
Full system-integration with "Universal SupervisorT"
Since 1990, Trend Technology Systems has been actively producing software and supplying DDC management equipment. Within no time, it was clear that building managers wanted more than just central climate management; management options were required for their other systems as well. In 1993, TTS brought their Universal SupervisorT onto the market. This Supervisor allows simple and transparent single-point operation and management of brand-independent systems such as CCTV, fire alarms, burglary and lift systems.
Interactions
It is easy to introduce interaction between linked systems. Whenever a security alarm is activated for example, it is possible to select a camera image and consequently record the images on video or CD-ROM. Or activate the lighting and climate control of an individual's room once they have passed access control with their security card.
From: MediaNPCA@aol.com
NPCA TO SCRUTINIZE GETTYSBURG MUSEUM PROPOSAL
IN EFFORT TO PROTECT PARK INTEGRITY
Statement by Eileen Woodford
Northeast Regional Director
National Parks and Conservation Association
November 7, 1997
As America's leading national park advocacy group, the National Parks
and Conservation Association (NPCA) supports the concept of a
public/private partnership to develop a new museum and visitor
center at Gettysburg National Military Park. Today's announcement by
the National Park Service (NPS) of a proposed Cooperator to build the
facilities is a highly untraditional proposal and requires very
close scrutiny. NPCA will evaluate the proposed partnership in terms
of its:
support of the mission and purpose of the park, especially in regard to the appropriateness of any commercial activities;
protection of park resources, including the artifacts collection, archives, Cyclorama painting, monuments and battlefield;
contribution to a high quality visitor experience with strong educational values; and
implications for future partnerships at other parks in the National Park System.
In addition, any proposed partnership must maintain the role of the
National Park Service as the sole steward of the park and its
resources. While removal of modern buildings from critical portions
of the battlefield would be an improvement on the current
arrangement, it is not the only factor that must be considered. The
museum proposal has enormous implications, not just for Gettysburg,
but for the entire National Park System. The problem of poor museum
storage facilities and inadequate educational centers is found at
numerous parks throughout the system. This proposal could set the
standard for how the National Park Service resolves these problems
at other parks, so great care is vital. We would like to see Congress
fund this and other critical capital needs of national parks.
Absent Congressional financial support, parks are forced to look at
outside sources to fulfill their mandate to preserve these resources
for future generations. If done correctly, this partnership could
provide the park with these much needed funds. NPCA will involve
itself at every juncture to ensure that this proposal does not
diminish or undermine the integrity of Gettysburg or the National
Park System in any way.
DENNEY COLECTION STORY:
http://museum-security.org/denney.html
From: David Alm[SMTP:dave@dcwi.com]
Sent: 10 November 1997 06:30
To: Antony Anderson
Subject: Re: Art Fraud? - Lessons from the Denney Collection
Hi Antony,
Thank you for your letter on the Denney Collection site. I have just finished reading it-what an ordeal! You have done a lot of work and documented it very well. Are there any recent developments? It is very interesting and quite appropriate to the scope of the magazine. With your permission, we will include it in the next issue of Art Investor Magazine. It would appear in our standard format as a heading with link to the actual site, credit, and a paragraph or so taken from the text. Thank you, and good luck!
Dave
David Alm Art Investor Magazine
<dave@dcwi.com> Brookston, IN 47923
<http://dcwi.com/~dave/aim.html> (765) 563-6577
From: Antony F Anderson <antonya@antonya.ace.co.uk>
To: "'dave@dcwi.com'" <dave@dcwi.com>
Copies to: "'Ton Cremers (webmaster)'" <cremers@xs4all.nl>
Subject: RE: Art Fraud? - Lessons from the Denney Collection
Date sent: Tue, 11 Nov 1997 01:52:32 -0000
Hi Dave!
Many thanks.
No recent developments unfortunately. The question of the inheritance
rights of the Denney children under Spanish Law has been before the
Spanish Supreme Court since November 1995 and on current performance
it looks as if it will be the latter end of 1999 or early 2000 before
the court will reach a decision. However, if there are any
developments meantime I will let you know.
In the meantime, I am quietly seeking to make sure that the case
becomes thoroughly well-known - if only as a warning to collectors,
museums and the legal profession as to what can happen with Art Loans
to museums go wrong. It seems that there are many cases where Art
Loans do go wrong, but these are mostly hushed up.
Best wishes
Antony Anderson
(Beacon Journal)
Cincinnati drops charge that Yoko Ono art was vandalized
CINCINNATI (AP) -- Authorities on Monday dropped a charge accusing a Seattle art student of having vandalized a painting by Yoko Ono, the widow of former Beatle John Lennon. Prosecutors had the felony vandalism charge dismissed against Jason D. Platt, 22, in Hamilton County Municipal Court. He had been charged with using a red Magic Marker on Oct. 16 to deface "Part Painting/A Circle," police said. The 1994 painting features a wide, horizontal black line painted across each one, suggesting an endless horizon. The painting covered five canvasses in its display at the Contemporary Arts Center in downtown Cincinnati. Police initially said the painting was worth $240,000. But the painting on display had been mass produced, officials said. Platt said there was a placard with the exhibit inviting others to participate in the art. "I know I wasn't doing anything wrong to begin with. I didn't mean to hurt anyone. I am glad it came to a peaceful solution," Platt said Monday as he stood outside the courtroom with his mother and several of his friends. "It was an opportunity for the usual passive viewer to become an artist, to create from your own past experience and understanding," Platt said. Platt is a student at the Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle.
Thieves steal Cambodia's ancient treasures of Angkor
By Robin McDowell
Associated Press
SIEM REAP, Cambodia --
Cambodian villagers risked their lives in the 1970s hiding priceless wooden Buddha statues from Khmer Rouge guerrillas set on wiping out religion. But now, four ancient statues are gone-stolen in the night from their most recent keeper, the Balang Pagoda, about 140 miles northwest of Phnom Penh. The theft of the 400-year-old statues was the first in what appears to be a new wave of pillaging in a protected 80-square-mile area around the ancient temples of Angkor in northwest Cambodia, said Oung Von, who heads the Angkor Conservatory in Siem Reap province. Angkor, the heart of the Khmer empire dating to the 7th century and home to 273 of Hindu and Buddhist monuments, has always been prey for thieves who sell their stolen wares mostly to Thailand. The thefts of statues and art treasures have slowed in recent years, however, thanks in part to the Heritage Police, set up with the help of the international community in 1994. The recent increase in looting could be linked to a bloody July coup by Second Prime Minister Hun Sen. The takeover and subsequent fighting has scared off tourists and investors, forcing desperate locals to find new ways to make money. "Before July, looting was still going on, but far away from the town," Oung Von said. "Now it is happening within the protected area of Angkor." In recent weeks, a 12th-century Buddha head was stolen from the Bayon temple, an 8th-century torso disappeared from the ruins of Prasat Lolei, and the 12-century statue of an Apsara dancer was taken from the western entrance of Bantey Kdei temple. The wooden Buddhas at the Balang Pagoda were stolen last month by thieves who broke the lock of the door. The 5-feet-tall figures were the most spectacular of 41 statues at the monastery. "It makes me very, very angry," said Soeum Chhup, a young monk at the monastery. "These are old statues, belonging to the nation," Soeum Chhup said. "Now they're lost forever." Col. Chea Sophat, who heads the Heritage Police, fears protecting the historic sprawling site will become harder. "Everyone is getting poorer and poorer since the fighting in Phnom Penh," he said. "They have no more way to make money." Several recent thefts were carried out largely by soldiers and police who were aided by local villagers, Chea Sophat said. The villagers are perhaps easier to catch because of their inexperience in looting, Chea Sophat said. But with less than 500 men to protect the 37 main sanctuaries, including the famed Angkor Wat, he is hampered by limited resources. At the ruins of Lolei, where the 8th-century torso was stolen, some villagers were nonchalant about the loss of the statue. "People used to come to rub her breast so they could have good luck in the Thai lottery," said one vendor, shrugging her shoulders when asked about the statue's disappearance. "All I know is that now it's gone."
----------------------------------------------------------
EU rules threaten London art market
By Gerrard Raven
LONDON, Nov 11 (Reuters) - London's art and antiques trade battered by a new European Union tax and now faces a further threat from Brussels, a report commissioned by the industry warned on Tuesday. The report, for the British Art Market Federation, showed art work imports from outside the EU have fallen 40 percent since 1994, when the EU imposed a 2.5 percent value added tax on them. The bloc is considering whether to double the level of the tax in 1999. It also wants to give 20th century artists and their heirs the right to receive between two and four percent of the price every time a picture is sold for more than 1,000 European Currency Units ($1,470). Such a payment, known as droit de suite, already applies in most of the EU's 15 countries. Anthony Browne, chairman of the Federation and a consultant with Sotheby's Holdings Inc , told a newsconference: "I have worked in the art market for 26 years, but I don't think I can remember a time when we have faced such a threat as we do today." Brussels has made its proposals in the name of harmonising tax levels across the EU, but the industry says it has failed to take into account the fact that London is fighting for its trade with cities outside the bloc. Peter Brooke, president of the Federation and a pro-European opposition Conservative MP, said: "Harmonisation must not be pushed through at the expense of Europe's ability to compete in the world." Sotheby's Browne added: "Someone considering selling a modern work, unless they are incredibly altruistic, is going to baulk at paying an extra two percent in London compared with what they would in New York." The report said Britain's art market had a turnover of 2.2 billion pounds ($3.7 billion) last year and employed 40,000 people. It said the proposal to give artists, and their heirs up to 70 years after their death, the droit de suite would have applied to about 16 percent of sales last year. "If the UK is forced to introduce droit de suite , EU sellers are...likely to be influenced by the absence of droit de suite in non-EU centres, and will opt to sell in New York or elsewhere," the report said. Ironically, the report was published the day after Christie's in New York shattered the world record for the sale of a 20th century art collection of a private owner. The auction house said the sale of the collection of Americans Victor and Sally Ganz for over $200 million was "enormously in excess of anything we had hoped for." London accounts for about 28 percent of the world art market compared with 44 percent for New York and six percent for Paris, the EU's next largest market.
Copyright 1997 Reuters Limited.
-------------------------------------------------
American Civil War relics stolen in Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - A sword that once belonged to the Union general who led federal troops to victory at Gettysburg in a crucial Civil War battle has disappeared from a museum in Philadelphia, officials said Tuesday. Police and the FBI were investigating the apparent theft of a presentation sword and scabbard once worn by Gen. George Gordon Meade, the commander of the Army of the Potomac, who in 1863 defeated the Confederate army led by Robert E. Lee. The battle turned the tide of the war, which ended with Union victory in 1865. Meade died in Philadelphia in 1872. Also stolen from the Historical Society of Pennsylvania were Civil War swords belonging to Union generals Andrew Atkinson Humphreys and David Bell Birney, as well as a flintlock long-rifle dating back to the American Revolution. The relics, which were kept in a locked storeroom, were discovered missing last week during a routine inventory check. Museum officials said the swords, scabbards and rifle were worth about $300,000.REUTERS
--------------------------------------------------------
(Electronic Telegraph London)
I stole the Prince's jewels, says Italian cat burglar
By Bruce Johnston in Rome and Neil Tweedie
(Story has been abbreviated. T.C.)
A SMALL-time cat-burglar from the Italian Riviera claims that he
stole jewellery and personal papers from the Prince of Wales's
private apartments in St James's Palace, London, three years ago.
(.............................)
Heirlooms belonging to the Prince of Wales were taken from his
apartments at St James's Palace between Feb 24 and 25 1994. A number
of pairs of cufflinks, tiepins and other personal possessions were
stolen, including a pair of 18-carat yellow gold Faberge cufflinks
once owned by Tsar Nicholas II of Russia. They were encrusted with
rose diamonds, sapphires and rubies.
Also taken was an engraved Hunter pocket watch given to the Prince by
the Princess Royal on his 21st birthday.
At the time of the break-in, Scotland Yard said that none of the
items would realise their real value as "it would be a bit like
trying to sell the Mona Lisa".
It was believed that the burglar might have used scaffolding covering
the front of the palace to gain entry. A description of the suspect
was issued after a man visited a jeweller in Hatton Garden, central
London, the day after the burglary and sold a number of items at a
fraction of their value to a bullion dealer. The dealer, Geoffrey
Mann, became suspicious and contacted the police. The suspect was
described as of Mediterranean origin - possibly Italian - in his early
30s, six feet tall and slim.
A spokesman for Scotland Yard said the case was the responsibility of
the Italian authorities and she knew of of no new developments. She
said information had been passed to the Italian authorities and said:
"The Metropolitan Police is grateful to the Italian authorities for
their close co-operation over the last few months."
------------------------------------------------------------------
(Museum-L)
Ansje Burdick <ansjeb@OREGON.UOREGON.EDU>
ART THEFT, WORLD WAR II AND MUSEUM ETHICS
(....................)
I am a graduate student in the Arts Administration program at the
University of Oregon and am currently involved in writing my thesis.
I have chosen a topic involving art theft, specifically the looting of
works during World War II, ethics and museums. I just finished
reading The Lost Museum by Hector Feliciano and was amazed. I'd not
only like to recommend the book for anyone interested in art theft or
involved with museums but would also like to hear your thoughts on the
issues raised by the book.
Specifically, as a museum professional, how would you handle a
situation where you found that your collection included a work that
was stolen from a Jewish family by the Nazis over 50 years ago? The
original family heirs want the painting back and the painting is worth
a considerable sum to the museum. How does your museum protect itself
from getting involved in this type of dilemma? What resources would
you call on to guide you through this type of situation?
Thanks.
Ansje Burdick
Arts Administration
University of Oregon
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Many antiques stolen from dealers found at one dealer's home (Shops
and auction houses have been hit. Chris G. Ritter is charged with
receiving stolen property)
By Anthony Beckman INQUIRER CORRESPONDENT
With one well-planned burglary, Linda Kelly McDowell says, she went
from being a prosperous Lambertville, N.J., antique jewelry dealer
to a struggling, debt-ridden shop owner, selling her personal
collection of jewelry to stay afloat. Early one morning in August,
thieves removed a stained-glass window, crawled into her store, and
took about 400 gem-studded rings, bracelets and other treasures she
valued at more than $300,000. Her shop was one of six-and probably
many more-antique shops, auction houses and private homes in New
Jersey and Pennsylvania that have been robbed of many hundreds of
thousands of dollars of merchandise since May, police said. In some
cases, the thefts have been violent, with victims severely injured
and bound. The gunmen are still at large. But the crime spree is
slowly unraveling. Stolen loot from at least three victims has turned
up at the home of fellow antiques dealer Chris G. Ritter, 48, of
Gilbertsville, police say. He was arrested and charged with receiving
stolen property after police executed a search warrant for his
Buchert Road home in October. Between $60,000 and $70,000 in stolen
articles were found at his home, according to police in Douglass
Township, Montgomery County. Ritter posted a $150,000 bail bond and is
free while awaiting a preliminary hearing. One of the victims whose
property was found at Ritter's home was Walter Kauffman of Westtown
Township, Chester County, according to police. On July 14, Kauffman,
who runs an antiques business, answered a late-night knock on his
front door. Three armed robbers sprayed his eyes with Mace, knocked
him down, bound him with plastic ties and took antique silver items
valued at $150,000, police said. In October, Kauffman identified
1,117 of the stolen items in the cache of valuables confiscated from
Ritter's home, according to an arrest affidavit. McDowell was able to
identify an additional 66 items, and John Evans of New Hanover,
Montgomery County, claimed one 1715 Spanish coin taken during a May
armed robbery of his home, according to the affidavit. Ritter is a
long-time area antiques dealer who has dabbled in politics. In 1990,
he ran for the state legislature. He served as an auditor in Bensalem
from 1978 to 1983 and served on its Zoning Hearing Board from 1983 to
1989. He is the son of Christopher Ritter, a former district justice
in Bucks County. His mother, Catherine, was a district justice in
Bensalem. Ritter is a personal acquaintance of each of the victims,
McDowell and other victims say. Ritter could not be reached for
comment yesterday. Mark Miller, an assistant district attorney in
Montgomery County, said that he was directing an investigation into a
multi-state crime ring that preyed on antiques owners and dealers.
Miller would not say whether Ritter would be charged with more
crimes or if police were close to making arrests. Antiques dealers
themselves played a large role in Ritter's arrest. When McDowell
learned that the Lambertville shop she has run since 1984 had been
burglarized, she quickly documented each stolen item and published
the list in a national antiques magazine. She also faxed the list to
every dealer she knew around the nation. Two months later, she said,
she received word that Ritter had set up a flea market stand at
Renninger's in Adamstown, Berks County, and that allegedly a large
number of McDowell's stolen jewels had been sold to an unsuspecting
dealer. McDowell said that she and police determined who that dealer
was, and they have recovered about $270,000 of the stolen articles.
An additional $40,000 is still missing, including a sapphire and
diamond bracelet worth about $2,400, she said.
©1997 Philadelphia Newspapers Inc.
------------------------------------------------
robbery victims identify Bensalem man as assailant
Two said Bruce C. Irwing of Bensalem was part of a trio that stole
antiques from them.
By Anthony Beckman INQUIRER CORRESPONDENT
WESTTOWN-Two robbery victims who were Maced, roughed up and bound
while thousands of dollars' worth of antiques were stolen from their
homes have both identified a Bensalem man as one of the assailants,
police say. The man, Bruce C. Irwing, 31, was arraigned yesterday in
connection with an antiques robbery here and was being held in lieu
of $100,000 cash bail in Chester County Prison. His arrest is part of
the unraveling of a multistate crime spree in which antiques were
stolen from homes and shops in New Jersey and Pennsylvania,
authorities say. Many hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of
antiques have been stolen since April, according to police. In the
Westtown robbery, according to a police affidavit, two men and a
woman knocked on the front door of an antiques dealer one night in
July. When he answered, they attacked him and stole $60,000 worth of
silverware sets and antique items. He sustained serious injuries and
required eye surgery, according to the affidavit. On Oct. 28, the
Westtown man identified Irwing through a police photograph, according
to the affidavit. A second victim, from Washington Township, N.J.,
who also was assaulted, identified Irwing the following day. Police
have recovered some of the stolen antiques from the home of Chris G.
Ritter, 48, a Gilbertsville, Montgomery County, antiques dealer, who
has been charged with several counts of receiving stolen property.
©1997 Philadelphia Newspapers Inc.
---------------------------------------------------------