JONATHAN SAZONOFF MESSAGES
Jonathan Sazonoff has been sending numerous very useful messages to the MSN mailinglist. Below you can find all these messages. Starting March 15, 1999 Jonathan's latest messages will be found on top of this page. All messages prior to that date are in chronological order. Jonathan's messages contain a lot of important and most relevant links. So do come back to this page regularly.
Ton Cremers
also visit a large list of WW.II and looted art links collected by Jonathan Sazonoff
SOURCES OF INFORMATION ON ART FORGERY
- june 1 - 11, 2003
- Musical Instrument Info
- December 11, 2002
- Observations regarding the Van Gogh Theft
- August 4, 2002
- Paraguay Theft
- Stolen Art Summer update
- July 2, 2002
- Following up on the recent Madrid recovery
- May 23, 2002
- A very bad waiter! - Strasbourg recovery notes
- May 18, 2002
- Stolen Art On The Web (Jonathan Sazonoff)
- April 20, 2002
- Thieves steal nine masterworks from Berlin museum
- March 28, 2002
- RE: Frans Hals Museum Theft (Jonathan Sazonoff)
- December 22, 2001:
- december update from Jonathan Sazonoff
- October 30, 2001, part II:
- Madrid Theft - FBI Page
- October 28, 2001:
- Stolen African Art and Artifacts
- October 10, 2001:
- Missing Statuettes from the Throne of Eurydice
- July 18, 2001:
- Reward offered for Stolen Chagall
- May 20, 2001:
- "Mrs. Barry" by Gilbert Stuart
- May 17, 2001:
- Czech Republic's Stolen Art Web-Site & Museum Train Theft
- March 7, 2001:
- Forbes - Great Art Thefts Of The 20th Century
- March 1, 2001:
- Misc. notes - WWII Polish losses, Investigarte, & discoveries of ancient literature
- February 16, 2001:
- FBI & Chilean stolen art web-sites - New URLs
- January 3, 2001:
- Museum Provenance List
- December 26, 2000:
- more on Stockholm art heist
- October 24, 2000:
- Stolen, Lost, & Missing Fossils
- September 20, 2000
- Re: Theft of Monet's "Pourville Beach"
- July 14, 2000
- Austria's Stolen Art Listings Now On-Line
- June 29, 2000:
- June update - notes on stolen art
- April 20, 2000: Missing Books and Manuscripts: another impressive Jonathan Sazonoff research achievement.
- April 18, 2000:
- Update - WWII / Holocaust Looted Art Resources (Jonathan Sazonoff)
- April 9, 2000:
- French & Italian Stolen Art - notes from the field (Jonathan Sazonoff)
- March 17, 2000:
- Art Forgery - Sources of Information (Jonathan Sazonoff)
- February 23, 2000:
- Popular Culture - Stolen Art on Television (Jonathan Sazonoff)
- February 17, 2000:
- Feb. update - notes on stolen art (Jonathan Sazonoff)
- December 21, 1999:
SE Asian Art Thefts
- December 8, 1999:
Exolart & an academic's inquiry
- November 17, 1999:
The Great Skylight Thefts
- November 12, 1999:
Stolen Art and Antiques on the Web
- October 13, 1999:
Minor listings of stolen & missing art
- October 11, 1999:
Italian WWII treasures untraced
- September 6, 1999:
Cons in jail Rembrandt at Auction
- September 3, 1999:
Object ID 1999 update
- August 12, 1999:
Trans Art International
- July 27, 1999:
Art Theft in the Movies The Thomas Crown Affair (fiction)
Postings of Stolen Antiquities
- July 21, 1999:
Numismatic theft Stolen Coins
- July 11, 1999: Faberge Eggs "A nice Breakfast at Tiffany's"
- June 29, 1999:
FBI's National Stolen Art File New URL
- June 25, 1999:
Switzerland Zürich Police Stolen Art Web Site
- june 22, 1999: Tools for researching major art works
- May 21, 1999: Archaeology, Antiquities, Theft, and Looting (“Electronic Bibliography” of URL’s )
- May 5, 1999: Due Diligence
- April 21, 1999: S.T.O.P. & Farewell to the Getty Info Institute
- April 19, 1999: Russian Art Theft Perov Posting
- April 7, 1999: German Stolen Art Listings on line
- April 5, 1999: Picasso Thefts "Dora Maar"
- March 29, 1999: Cultural Property Update
- March 22, 1999: Geological specimen theft
-
Date sent: Sun, 14 Mar 1999 11:34:09 0600
From: Jonathan Sazonoff
Send reply to: saz@kwom.com
Organization: SAZ PRODUCTIONS, INC.
To: securma@xs4all.nl
Subject: Police Departments & Stolen Art
Dear Subscribers,
The host city of the National Cultural Property Conference (Los Angeles)
has updated its' Police Department's Art Theft Detail web site.
http://www.lapdonline.org/art_theft
LA is leading the way in which local law enforcement uses the web to
combat art theft. Here is a brief look at other local efforts (North
American police departments & crime stoppers) as they search for stolen
art.
California Riverside County Sheriff's Department WANTED Burglary
http://www.co.riverside.ca.us/sheriff/crime/cases/skelton.htm
California Police Department at the Marin Community College
http://www.marin.cc.ca.us/police/crimebul.htm
Rhode Island Newport Police Department Stolen Property Site
http://www3.edgenet.net/newportpolice/stolen.htm
Utah Provo Police Department Press Release
http://www.provo.org/ppd/press/art.htm
Wisconson CRIMESTOPPERS
http://www.wbay.com/crime/0218.html
Canada, Edmonton 02 October 1998 News Release
http://edmonton.shaw.wave.ca/~srcmp/n981002.htm
Canada, Calgary Boer War Memorial: Public Art No. 28
http://publiclibrary.calgary.ab.ca/tours/art/art28.htm
Canada, British Columbia Crime stoppers, thefts
http://www.stardate.bc.ca/Nonprofit/crimestoppers/theft.htm
From: Jonathan Sazonoff saz@kwom.com
Organization: SAZ PRODUCTIONS, INC.
To: securma@museumsecurity.org
Subject: Art Theft /Stolen Art update
Dear Subscribers,
We've updated our website: http://www.saztv.com
For those who have followed the list; there has long been a call for coordination and general distribution of information about stolen art. There has also been a recent proliferation of (web based) stolen art registries.
For your convince, we've gathered those stolen art databases for you. We hope this information will be of interest to you. In cooperation with Robert E. Spiel & Associates (publisher of Art Intelligence) we offer a Search for the World's Most Wanted Art. Much more to follow.
Thanks,
Jonathan Sazonoff
President SAZ PRODUCTIONS, INC
email arttheft@webtv.net
From: Jonathan Sazonoff saz@kwom.com
Subject: Native American Artifacts (thefts)
Dear Subscribers,
The posting S.W. Archaeological Vandelism raised some interesting issues. As the scope of collections extend well beyond fine art; we would like to offer some resources pertinent to Native American artifact thefts. To begin with, there are a number of ethical issues. A fine academic site "Stolen Art Finders or Keepers" presents international case studies. http://home.att.net/~tisone/problem.htm
Continuing with ethics, see Native American repatriations foundation. http://www.repatriationfoundation.org/index.html
As for native artifact thefts:
American Tribal Art Dealers theft page
http://www.atada.org/index.html
rra Mono Museum, CA Baskets
http://www.bestinwest.com/bdir/cdir/basket.html
Stolen Native Art in Canada
http://www.swifty.com/stolen.html
Canadian Native theft
http://indy4.fdl.cc.mn.us/~isk/art/art.html
Hope you find this information useful,
SAZ PRODUCTIONS, INC.
www.saztv.com
From: Jonathan Sazonoff saz@kwom.com
Subject: US import laws / Lost Van Goghs (websites)
Dear Subscribers,
We have come across several websites that might be of interest to the list. For those who plead ignorance of international cultural property treaties, here are the basic US rules for import/export of cultural objects US Customs Service http://www.customs.ustreas.gov/impexp/trade/tools/acp.htm
For those who love a mystery, the Van Gogh Information Gallery (thanks, David Brooks of Canada) has a page reviewing the artist's lost works. http://www.openface.ca/~vangogh/map/m_unknow.htm
We hope you find this information helpful.
Jonathan Sazonoff
Pres. Saz Prod., Inc.
www.saztv.com
From: Jonathan Sazonoff saz@kwom.com
Subject: Mona Lisa Theft 1911
In response to the question about the famous Louvre theft, here is a relavent webpage: The Discovery Channel Mona Lisa
http://www.discovery.com/DCO/doc/1012/world/wayback/wayback082696/wayback.html
Hope you find this useful,
Saz Productions, Inc.
www.saztv.com
From: Jonathan Sazonoff saz@kwom.com
Subject: Art Theft, Stolen Art update (Jonathan Sazonoff )
Dear Subscribers,
There have been several recent developments, in the field of stolen art, that we'd like to share. First INTERPOL (USNCB) has recently updated their cultural property website. http://www.usdoj.gov/usncb/artwanted.htm
Additionally, we have been informed of a new database that INTERPOL will launch in several months. It will offer a valuable tool, in the worldwide effort to recover cultural property. Next, we have been pleased to work with David Liston of the Smithsonian & ICOM, providing information for an upcoming index of stolen art databases. The efforts of Mr. Liston towards the protection of cultural property should be lauded. On a personal note, David it has been a pleasure. We are looking forward to the posting of the list and further cooperation and collaboration.
Regards,
Jonathan Sazonoff
Pres. Saz Prod., Inc.
www.saztv.com
From: Jonathan Sazonoff saz@kwom.com
Subject: Ethic's, Law, and Stolen Art
Dear Subscribers.
An informant drew our attention to a recent posting in Maine Antique Digests' stolen art posts. The anonymous posting states "Stolen Picasso found what do I do with it now?"
See stolen art posts 8/27/98 (scroll down)
http://www.maineantiquedigest.com
Could the experts on this list please comment on the law and ethics of a response? Such information should be of interest to the list.
Thanks,
Jonathan Sazonoff
Saz Productions Inc.
www.saztv.com
@@@@@@@
reply:
Jonathan,
I saw the same posting.
My simple advice to this anonymous person: GIVE IT BACK!!
Ton Cremers
@@@@@@@
From: Jonathan Sazonoff saz@kwom.com
To: securma@xs4all.nl
Subject: Re: Monet & Sisely theft
The French Government has posted pictures of the two paintings stolen from Nice's Fine Art Museum (Sept 21,1998). They can be found in a list at: http://www.interieur.gouv.fr/pages/informa/oa1.htm
We hope you find this information useful.
Jonathan Sazonoff
Pres. Saz Prod., Inc.
www.saztv.com
From: Jonathan Sazonoff saz@kwom.com
Subject: WWII / Holocaust Stolen Art (Part 1 History)
Dear Subscribers,
Examining the archives of the Museum Security Network one can't help but be struck by the many postings concerning art stolen in WWII. Soon, a conference on Holocaust assets will take place in Washington D.C.
http://www.state.gov/www/regions/eur/wash_conf.html
In order to provide some context, for those interested, we submit the the first of three (3) postings devoted to WWII / Holocaust stolen art.
We hope you find this information useful.
Saz Productions, Inc.
www.saztv.com
Part I. History of WWII / Holocaust Looting:
The Nizkor Project dedicated to the remembrance of the victims of the Nazi Holocaust, and to the refutation of those who say it never happened; presents scholarly documentation in, "The Plunder of Art Treasures" by Einsatz Rosenberg. http://www.nizkor.org/hweb/imt/nca/nca01/nca0114plunder01.html
A good book on the subject, "The Lost Museum" by Hector Feliciano http://www.hcacademic.com/catalyst/B5041949.HTM
An interesting map locating Nazi treasure http://www.xs4all.nl/~odu/kaart.html
A picture (worth a thousand words) April 1945 Eisenhower Inspects Stolen Art Treasure:
http://www.historyplace.com/worldwar2/timeline/ikeart.htm
An artist's presentation on the subject Vera Frenkel Body Missing
http://www.umoncton.ca/gaum/veraf.htm
The wider scope of European looting will be addresses in future posts;
but a good start is an outline of the Bremen Meeting 11/30/94 12/2/94
http://www.dhh3.de/biblio/bremen/treasures/contents.html
More to come…
Part II. Stolen Art Lists
Part III. Restitution Efforts
From: Jonathan Sazonoff saz@kwom.com Subject: Stolen Bones Paleontology ( Jonathan Sazonoff)
Dear Subscribers,
Aside from the many articles dealing with art theft, we've found some resources dealing with Stolen Bones Paleontology. We hope this promotes natural history museums and like collectors to contribute to this important mailing list.
Regards,
Jonathan Sazonoff
Saz Prod., Inc.
www.saztv.com
BLM LawEnforcement offers REWARDs for stolen dinosaur fossils and
prehistoric artifacts. http://wwwa.blm.gov/utah/reward.html
Peking Man $25,000 reward http://www.treasure.com/reward.htm
CNN Someone's swiping dinosaur parts from Russian institute February 8, 1998 http://www3.cnn.com/TECH/9802/08/dinosaur.parts/
Dinosaur skulls stolen from Paleontological Institute, Moscow http://www.dinosauria.com/jdp/stolen/russia.htm
Ancient Rhino Ruins Stolen http://www.netspace.org/users/herald/issues/100196/brief4.f.html
Stegosaur footprints stolen http://www.dinosauria.com/jdp/stolen/stegfoot.htm
The Seizure of Sue http://www.fullcontext.org/topics/trex/seizure.htm
PaleoWars.html http://www.pitt.edu/~mattf/PaleoWars.html
http://www3.pitt.edu/~mattf/newspaleo.html
Fossil Laws & Ethicshttp://tigger.uic.edu/orgs/paleo/pscode.html
Collectors code of ethics
Fossil Legislation & Ethics Part of Kuban's Paleo Place http://members.aol.com/fostrak/palelegi.htm
Utah! Rock Hounding on Public lands. http://www.utah.com/utahadv/outdoor/rock.htm
NMFP Public Lands: Public Fossils http://www.nmmnhabq.mus.nm.us/nmfp/nmfp961b.html
Fossils becoming bones of contention; Agencies try to balance access, protection from theft http://www.dinosauria.com/jdp/sue/one.htm
Honduras This Week OnlineSpecial Update on Tropical Storm Mitch
Dear Subscribers,
I've been trying to contact an old college professor, to inquire about the Mayan archaeological site of Copan, in light of the recent floods. However, before addressing damage to cultural sites and museums, the welfare of the people of Central America must first be addressed.
The following website outlines the formal Honduran request for aid.
http://www.marrder.com/htw/
From: Jonathan Sazonoff saz@kwom.com
Subject: Stolen Stradivarius Violins
Dear Subscribers,
The recent posting about a Stradivarius theft raises some interesting questions. Questions like, what's out there? The 18th century Italian craftsman produced some 630 instruments. A genuine Stradivari is worth $2,000,000 $3,000,000. The following websites offer more information about and examples of stolen Stradivarius violins.
We hope you find this information useful.
SAZ Productions Inc. www.saztv.com
The American Federation Of Violin and Bow Makers has a registry of instruments and a webpage, "So you think you found a Strad." http://www.afvbm.com/newstrad.htm
Colossus Stradivari http://www.artstolen.com/pictures.htm
DavidovMorrini Stradivari. http://www.fbi.gov/arttheft/theft.htm
More violin thefts: http://www.fineanddecorativeart.com/brobst.htm
From: Jonathan Sazonoff saz@kwom.com
Subject: WW/Holocaust Stolen Art (Part II. Stolen Art Lists)
Dear Subscribers,
WWII brought about the greatest plunder of property this century. Some estimate 300,000 art works still unaccounted for. To provide a context, prior to the Washington Conference on Holocaust Assets (Nov 30 Dec 3)http://www.state.gov/www/regions/eur/wash_conf.html , we offer the second of three postings of webs resources devoted to this broad subject.
We hope you find this information useful.
SAZ PRODUCTION'S, INC.
www.saztv.com Part II. Stolen Art Lists
There have been several recent finds to assist researchers. The UK's Victoria & Albert Museum has uncovered the Fischer list 10,000 works of art from the Goering collection. France will soon put the lost Schloss collection (171 Dutch and Flemish paintings) on line. The World Jewish Congress has also uncovered a WWII intelligence (OSS) document listing 2,000 collectors and dealers who handled the Nazi's confiscated art
As for web sites, these provide specific listings of missing WWII art works:
Italy: Commissione Interministeriale per le Opere d'Arte
http://cam07a.sta.uniroma1.it/comin/ingle/indice0.html
Germany: SuchIndex: Beutekunst (search)
http://www.dhh3.de/cgibin/v_beute
France: Catalogue des MNR (search)
http://www.culture.fr/cgibin/wave.cgi?dqi=mnrbis&icon=/documentation/icones
Archives, bibliographies, and related material:
Archives: Commission for the Protection and Salvage of Artistic and Historic Monuments rg239.txt
http://gopher.nara.gov:70/0/inform/guide/200s/rg239.txt
Archival Material on National Socialit Art Plundering WWII
http://dig.dhh3.de/biblio/bremen/sow1/archmat.html
Vera Frenkal's combined reading list
http://www.yorku.ca/BodyMissing/beyond/beyond_ind.html
Beutekunst Bibliographie Zeitungsartikel Jg.1994
http://www.ib.huberlin.de/~pbruhn/zt1994.htm
Hitler's Capital by James S. Plaut
http://www.theatlantic.com/trans.atl/unbound/flashbks/nazigold/hitler.htm
Loot for the Master Race by James S. Plaut
http://www.theatlantic.com/atlantic/unbound/flashbks/nazigold/loot.htm
Still to come. Part III. Restitution Efforts
From: Jonathan Sazonoff saz@kwom.com
Subject: WWII / Holocaust Stolen Art (Part III. Restitution Efforts)
Dear Subscribers,
This is the third posting examining WWII / Holocaust Stolen Art websites prior to the Washington DC conference on Holocaust Assets (Nov 30 Dec 3) http://www.state.gov/www/regions/eur/holocausthp.html
We hope you find this information useful. SAZ PRODUCTIONS, INC.
www.saztv.com
Part III. Restitution Efforts
A good summary of the situation Statement of Lynn H. Nicholas
http://www.house.gov/banking/62597nic.htm
The US Holocaust Museum has compiled a good list of resources
http://www.ushmm.org/assets/ushmm4.htm
Holocaust Art Restitution Project
http://www.lostart.org/
Art Loss Register's initiative Statement of Ronald S. Tauber
http://www.house.gov/banking/21298tau.htm
WWII European looting is covered in "Looted Art First Internet Research Catalog" Many good pages including Spoils of War Newsletter, Press articles, and more
http://www.dhh3.de/biblio/
National Press Club address by Phillippe de Montebello, Art Plundered during the Holocaust
http://www.metmuseum.org/htmlfile/news/NPC.htm
An exerpt from AAMD's Task Force report
Discovery of Unlawfully Confiscated Works of Art
1. If a member museum should determine that a work of art in its collection was illegally confiscated during the Nazi/World War II era and not restituted, the museum should make such information public.
2. In the event that a legitimate claimant comes forward, the museum should offer to resolve the matter in an equitable, appropriate, and mutually agreeable manner.
3. In the event that no legitimate claimant comes forward, the museum should acknowledge the history of the work of art on labels and publications referring to such a work.
(Full text: http://www.aamd.net/guideln.shtml )
Note
We applaud the efforts of all who have worked towards the restitution of stolen art, and other assets. All claims should be vigorously pursued. see NY Holocaust Asset Claim form
http://www.claims.state.ny.us/clartinf.htm
Sadly, one must assume that many items will go unclaimed. There should be some thought given to an international standard, a label or badge to mark these works for posterity.
Perhaps museum labels could present those work's, in part, as gifts or bequeaths from those victims, in their memory, in hope that it should never happen again.
saz
From: Jonathan Sazonoff
Subject: Stolen Art update
Dear Subscribers,
Unable to attend last weeks Washington Conference, but assured by the U.S. State Department that a conference report will be published. The Art Loss Register has several press releases relating to their Hollocaust Art initiatives. These can be found at their website http://www.artloss.com/main.htm
In other cultural property news, COPAT's website is worth a look. http://www.thesaurus.co.uk/023348.cus/Although objected to, by several major auction houses, their due dilligence proposals will be of interest to those in the filed.
We hope you find this information useful,
SAZ PRODUCTIONS, INC.
www.saztv.com
From: Jonathan Sazonoff saz@kwom.com
Subject: ALR & Washington Conference
Dear Subscribes,
There seems to be some confusion from our last posting. SAZ Productions, Inc. did not attend the Washington Conference.
The Art Loss Register did attend. Ms. Sara Jackson (ALR London)and Mr Ronald Tauber (ALR New York) attended the Washington Conference on Holocaust era assets. The Art Loss Register made a presentation titled ' Looted Art: A Practical Response ' at the Conference on 2nd December. We hope this posting is a little clearer.
Regards,
Jonathan Sazonoff
Pres. Saz Prod., Inc.
www.saztv.com
From: Jonathan Sazonoff saz@kwom.com
Subject: Chicago Gallery Theft
CHICAGO... Thieves hit Wicker Park's "Hollis Funk Gallery" Saturday night. They defeated an alarm, removed a door, and made off with 150 selected pieces of poster art, including a signed Picasso. The loot was estimated to be worth $200,000 $250,000. Chicago police are investigating.
From: Jonathan Sazonoff saz@kwom.com
Subject: Smithsonian note
Dear Subscribers,
Just returned from Washington D.C. The trip allowed me an opportunity to visit with the Smithsonian Institution's staff. Thousands of employees, millions of objects, and so many facilities, it's an impressive operation. Indeed without a "US Ministry of Culture" the Smithsonian has taken on much of that mantel. Their Office of Protective Services is equally impressive. Armed officers, US Marshals included, stand watch over the national collection. We seem to be in good hands. My thanks to David Liston (Smithsonian & ICOM) for his hospitality and insights. He has edited a valuable book for the field Museum Security and Protection, a handbook for cultural heritage institutions (see Museum Security Network Publications also found at Barns And Noble Booksellers) http://shop.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?userid=2IBX0IB3LQ&mscssid=LLP29VNLJNSH2PBE00LHRV18M8W6NXPW&pcount=&isbn=0415075092
Also, as a side trip, I saw the National Gallery's Van Gogh Exhibit. The staff was gracious but the mob scene of "blockbuster shows" made me pine for the days of smaller crowds (yes, I was a museum guard years ago). Again, thanks to all those who so warmly received me.
Jonathan Sazonoff
Pres. Saz Productions Inc.
www.saztv.com
Date: Wed, 30 Dec 1998 01:47:16 0600
From: Jonathan Sazonoff saz@kwom.com
Organization: SAZ PRODUCTIONS, INC. Subject: The fight to recover stolen cultural property 1998 in Review
Dear Subscribers,
1998 has been a year of great progress in the fight to recover stolen cultural property. There has been a greater use of the internet and historic attempts have been made to address many outstanding culture property issues.
In addition to the growth of the Museum Security Network, INTERPOL (USNCB), the FBI National Stolen Art File, and the USIA have all premiered cultural property sites on the web this year. see http://www.saztv.com/page11.html. There has also been a proliferation of public and private web sits. http://www.saztv.com/page9.html
The biggest stories of 1998 seemed to have their antecedence in WWII. The Russia Government renewed its desire to keep captured trophy art. On the positive side, progress was made at the Washington D.C. Holocaust Assets conference. see http://www.ushmm.org/assets/. As WWII caused the greatest modern plunder of art, it is no surprise that attempts for reparation have taken so long.
Fortunately, a healthy desire to do the right thing, seems to have blossomed. The Art Loss Register, WJC, AAMD, State of New York and others have provided specific initiatives. There has even been a proposal for the development of a single web site to those ends.
As for reviewing the major cases of 1998 here is our attempt. Many sources were consulted. We welcome any and all corrections. Happy new year from SAZ PRODUCTIONS, INC.
Australia Broome 11/27/98 Dinosaur Foot Print 120,000,000 yr old
Australia Ramsgate Mathieson Gallery 12/14/98 Lindsay Women w/ Pan like figure (watercolor)
Australia Ramsgate Mathieson Gallery 12/14/98 Lindsay Women w/ Pan like figure (etching)
Belarus Vitebsk Museum 11/9/98 Chagalls
China Beijing (suburban) 4/1/98 Buddha (painted stone) 499 bc Wei dyn
Denmark Copenhagen Harbor 1/8/98 Statue of Little Merrmaid Recovered
France Nice Fine Arts Museum of Nice 9/21/98 Sisely Alley of Poplars Recovered
France Nice Fine Arts Museum of Nice 9/21/98 Monet Cliffs of Dieppe Recovered
France Nice Princess Erina of Saxony 1/6/98 475 carat ruby & a pearl bear
France Paris Louvre 5/4/98 Corot Chemin De Sevres
France Paris Private residence 5/3/98 Corot
France Paris Louvre 1/7/98 Marble votive stone
France Chateau de Compiegne 5/12/98 18th & 19th cent
France Chateau de Compiegne 5/12/98 18th & 19th cent (vases statuetts)
France Ministry of Culture note 2/26/98 Parrocel St. Augstine & St. Bernard
Honduras Copan Archeological Museum 2/27/98 Mayan / Wife of 1st King's Mother of Pearl Neckless
Honduras Copan Archeological site 2/27/98 Mayan Jade Pieces
Italy Rome National Modern Art Gallery 5/20/98 Cezanne Cabanon de Jourdan Recovered
Italy Rome National Modern Art Gallery 5/20/98 Van Gogh The Gardner Recovered
Italy Rome National Modern Art Gallery 5/20/98 Van Gogh Woman From Arles Recovered
Italy Venice Guistiniani Palace (private) 10/22/98 Map of Venice Recovered
Italy Venice Guistiniani Palace (private) 10/22/98 Canaletto Flour Wraf Recovered
Japan Koryo Koryo Museum 11/15/98 ceramic pieces (15)
Japan Tokyo Yanmonoki Museum 1/8/98 Sung Dyn. (2)vases 20"
Netherlands Middelberg Zeeuws Museum 9/26/98 Mondrian The Tree (1909) Recovered
New Zealand Auckland Auckland Art Gallery 8/9/98 Tisso Still on Top Recovered
Peru Arequipa Museum 11/20/98 Inca Feather Cloak (560 Parrot) Recovered
Philippines Baguio City Hospital 5/27/98 Amorsolo Lord and Some of His Children
Poland Krakow Polish Academy of Science 11/25/98 Copurnicus `De Revolutionibus'' (1543)
Russia Moscow Paleontological Institute Jan98 240 million year oldamphibian skull
Russia Moscow Paleontological Institute Jan98 mamoth tusks (worlds largest) 220 lbs
Russia St. Petersburg Geological Museum (Chernishova) 12/1/98 Helicoprion bessonovi "holotipe"
South Africa Capetown SA National Gallery 10/4/98 Stickert Royal Hotel, Dieppe (1902)
Spain Lebena Church 3/16/98 Madonna and Child (Sta Maria de Lebena)
Spain Zamora Church 3/16/98 Descendimento
Spain Zamora Church 3/16/98 Dudas de Sto. Tomas
Spain Zamora Church 3/16/98 El Santo Entierro
Spain Zamora Church 3/16/98 Resurreccion
Ukraine 8/15/98 Copurnicus `De Revolutionibus'' (1543)
United Kingdom Buckinghamshire Madmenham 7/18/98 Warhol SelfPortrait 1964 (Black top on red velvet)
United Kingdom Glouchester Business in Winchcombe 1/20/98 Duncan Venetian Lagoon
United Kingdom Glouchester Business in Winchcombe 1/20/98 Lesrel The Conuoisseurs
United Kingdom Glouchester Business in Winchcombe 1/20/98 Gallon Loading Reeds by a River
United Kingdom Glouchester Business in Winchcombe 1/20/98 Andreotti Gathering Roses
United Kingdom Glouchester Business in Winchcombe 1/20/98 King A Quiet Fish
United Kingdom Glouchester Business in Winchcombe 1/20/98 Fidler Loading hay cart in farm yard
United Kingdom Glouchester Business in Winchcombe 1/20/98 Key Landscape Bredon Wores
United Kingdom Glouchester Business in Winchcombe 1/20/98 Belleuse Rembrandt Bust
United Kingdom Hampshire 1/22/98 Collins 2 Boys and a Girl w/ Net on a Beach
United Kingdom Hampshire 1/22/98 Collins 2 Women & child in open landscape
United Kingdom Hampshire 1/22/98 Collins Boys and a Girl w/ Net on Beach boats
United Kingdom Hampshire 1/22/98 Collins Harvest Scene
United Kingdom Hampshire 1/22/98 Collins Youth & Maiden w/ toy boat on beach
United Kingdom London Victoria & Albert Museum 11/12/98 Constable Dedham Lock and Mill
United Kingdom London Victoria & Albert Museum 11/12/98 Constable Sketch for Valley Farm
United Kingdom London Courtland Institute 11/6/98 Giovanni (Gherado di) Head of an Angel (fragment)
United Kingdom London Courtland Institute 11/6/98 Bles, (Herri met de) Landscape w/ St. Praying
United Kingdom London Courtland Institute 11/6/98 Aachen (Hans van) Entombment (1582)
United Kingdom London West End Gallery 2/9/98 Condor Peacock Lady
United Kingdom Sunderland Museum Apr98 Lowry Young Man
United Kingdom Durham University 12/16/98 Shakespeare 1st folio
USA LA, Chinatown CA Stolen from a salesman 1/14/98 Gems
USA CT Mar98 Recovered
USA West Palm Beach FL 2/9/98 Lucayan terracotta bell krater
USA Des Moines IA Drake University 1/27/98 McKenney History of the Indian Tribes of America (# vol)
USA MI Park West Gallery 5/7/98 Picasso etch
USA MI Park West Gallery 5/7/98 Rembrandt plate
USA Hendersonville NC 5/3/98 Rembrandt Recovered
USA Lincoln NE University of Nebraska Mar98 Nadelman Man in Open Air (1915) bronze
USA Santa Fe NM Private Collector 7/24/98 Swift Dog Ledger of Little Bighorn (10 pics)
USA Troy NY Rensselaer Polytech. 4/3/98 Portrait of Wm. Rensselaer
USA Cleveland OH Rockefeller Park Greenhouse 7/30/98 Hellen Keller Statue
USA Memphis TN Calvary Bapt. Church 2/9/98 Giordano (School) Recovered
USA Goldendale WA Maryhill Museum 5/17/98 16 rare roman coins
From: Jonathan Sazonoff saz@kwom.com
Subject: Re: Stolen Asian Art
Dear Subscribers,
Jennifer Folley (Cornell Univ?) raises a good question. To those of us unskilled in Asian languages, there seem to be few sources on stolen Asian art. Ohio State University offers some good information on Afganistan and Nepal, and a website NUSANTARA also offers some Indonesian leads.
I join in the desire to learn more about stolen Asian art. I'm sure the Museum Security Network would like to hear from some experts in that field. To those ends, we "prime the pump." Here our meager Asian files (web sites and articles). We hope you find this information useful.
Regards,
Jonathan Sazonoff
SAZ PROD. INC.
www.saztv.com
Asia Stolen Art Resources (web)
Afganistan
Lost and Stolen Images Afghanistan & Nepal
http://kaladarshan.arts.ohiostate.edu/loststolen/losto.html
http://frankenstein.worldweb.net/afghan/Museum/museum.html
The pillage of Kabul Museum
http://www.rawa.org/museum.html China
Death sentence Tang Frescos
http://rotarran.artnet.com/magazine/news/artnetnews/artnetnews101298.html
India
India Today Crime [Caught Off Guard]
http://www.indiatoday.com/itoday/02021998/crime.html
Latest India News: India News Network Digest [II] August 17
http://india.bgsu.edu/arch/indial/Aug96/0028.html
THE HINDU ONLINE : Thursday, November 13, 1997 Regional 04132234.htm Recovery
http://www.webpage.com/hindu/daily/971113/04/04132234.htm
Objets.dArt.Smuggling
http://calvin.cse.psu.edu/~gargi/India/Objets.dArt.Smuggling
FORCIBLY ACQUIRING SIGNED RENOIR COPIES Mar. '97
http://www.goacom.com/news/news97/mar/renoir.html Iraq
Stolen Stones
http://www.he.net/~archaeol/online/features/nineveh/index.html
Hurt by Sanctions, Iraqis Sell Antiquities, Despite Export Laws
http://www.nd.edu/~ktrembat/wwwclass/iraqantiquities.html
Indonesia
theft of Sudjana Kerton paintings
http://www.nusantara.com/seart/kerton.html
Art Crime Does Not Pay
http://www.nusantara.com/seart/crime.html
NUSANTARA the Southeast Asian Art file
http://www.nusantara.com/seart/st961028.html
NUSANTARA the Southeast Asian Art file
http://www.nusantara.com/seart/Basook.html
Art theft and forgery plaguing Indonesian art market
http://www.artdaily.com/News/dic96/07/pg12121r.htm
http://www.mekongdigest.com/30oct96.htm
Japan
Kyushu News
http://209.25.22.166/news/news.cgi?action=view&item=artseller.html
Nepal
Orchid Press Series White Orchid Books
http://redfrog.norconnect.no/~wop/white_orchid_books.html
Pakistan
Contents of Diplomat's Magazine from Peshawar NWFP Pakistan
http://www.diplomat.com.pk/jun7.html
Rare coins disappear from city museum DAWN Top Stories; 08 September, 1998
http://www.dawn.com/daily/19980908/top8.htm
Pakistan News Service Hertiage Column
http://paknews.org.pk/heritage1.html
Philippines
DN pn: Amorsolo stolen from hospital
http://x9.dejanews.com/getdoc.xp?AN=357218876&CONTEXT=899105571.1434255379&hitnum=53
Korea Times Report Christies vs Marcos Philipines
http://www.korealink.co.kr/14_6/9806/t465195.htm Boston.com / Latest News / Nation / Imelda Marcos appeals $40 billion judgment in Golden Buddha case
http://www.boston.com/dailynews/wirehtml/176/Imelda_Marcos_appeals__40_billion_j.htm
The Museum Security Mailinglist archive can be downloaded directly by clicking:
http://museumsecurity.org/MSNarchive.exe
From: Jonathan Sazonoff saz@kwom.com
Subject: Re: Stolen Art to Order
Dear Subscribers,
This thread on stolen art to order has me doing some rethinking. On second thought there are some candidates for "Dr. No". Goering as Edward Mayer noted, was an avid art collector, as to a lesser degree was Himler. Hittler was in a category by himself. Their greater crimes however were waging war on humanity. Idi Amin, lesser dictators, and military officers might also have their page in the annals of stolen art. Pablo Escobar's rumored collection has already been mentioned. But, this raises the question of figures in organized crime. Several years ago, a movie "The Freshman" had Marlin Brando replaying his godfather role. In that movie the Don proudly displayed the "Mona Lisa" over his mantel. The joke was the Louvre had the fake one. While the movie was fiction, it reminds us that there are some major players on the other side of the law. see http://www.alternatives.com/crime/menu.html Raiding a Camorra (Naple's Mafia) crime boss, police recovered an opulent treasure. The cache of art was described as an "Italian Louvre." (NY Times: Aug, 2. 1992) China's Hou Linshan ("Billionaire Hou") was executed for running an antiquities smuggling empire. http://www.csmonitor.com/durable/1997/09/10/intl/intl.3.html Russian has there own cast of characters. Here is an article suggesting one member of the Russian Mob as a "Dr. No" candidate. http://ukar.org/friedm01.shtml Indeed, the whole world of organized crime may be peppered with "collectors". Indeed, until I weighed the question, I didn't believe such a person existed. Now I'm not so sure. But, Steve Keller is correct. Museum resources must be put to better use than defending against "Dr. No." He indeed seems to be the exception rather than the rule.
Regards,
Jonathan Sazonoff
SAZ PRODUCTIONS INC.
www.saztv.com
From: Jonathan Sazonoff saz@kwom.com
Subject: LAPD Art Theft Detail
Dear Subscribers,
The Los Angeles Police Department (California, USA) has now posted stolen art on the web. We applaud Don Hrycyk et al for their efforts. LA is the second largest US city and as well as a major art market.
http://www.lapdonline.org/get_involved/stolen_art/art_theft_detail_main.htm
We hope you find this information useful,
SAZ Productions, Inc.
www.saztv.com
From: Jonathan Sazonoff saz@kwom.com
Subject: Spanish Civil Guard Art Recoveries
Dear Subscribers,
In light of the recent art recoveries in Spain, I visited the Civil Guard web site and found the following notice. It seems the Spanish police have been very busy.
Hope you find this information useful,
SAZ PRODUCTIONS, INC.
http://www.saztv.com
My Spanish is poor, so this document from:
http://www.guardiacivil.org/ has been translated using Alta Vista
http://babelfish.altavista.digital.com/cgibin/translate
From the Spanish: THE CIVIL GUARD DISMANTLES A NETWORK DEDICATED TO ART WORK ROBBERY
* The Operation " Bell tower " settles with the halting of 4 people and the seizure of several works of art. * The operative one has been carried out, by members of the EDOA of the Civil Guard, in the Rioja, Navarre, Valencia and Alicante. The Civil Guard has come, within the denominated operation " Bell tower " to the dismantling of a network dedicated to the work robbery of art and the halting of 4 people in the Rioja, Navarre, Valencia and Alicante. The operative one began as a result of several robberies committed in churches and hermitages of the Independent Communities of the Rioja and Navarre, at the beginning of 1998 culminating 15 of January the past, after several days of investigation in which the prisoners were put under one narrow monitoring. The beginning of the investigations was centered in VICENTE R.S., of 60 years, individual with an ample criminal file, residence in Benidorm (Alicante) and with entailments in the Rioja, verifying that when it carried out different displacement towards the Rioja, Navarre and Towns, perpetrated several robberies in those zones. Later it was possible to be verified that FRANCISCO L.G., resident in Altea (Alicante), could also be author along with VICENTE R.S. of several work robberies of art and antiques perpetrated in residences and palacetes of the province of Alicante. After making a pursuit to the prisoners during the nights of 15 and 16 of January, and moments after a robbery of antiques in a house of field of the locality of Villajoyosa (Alicante), them were taken part inside a vehicle the totality of the removed objects, as well as instruments used in the perpetration of the robbery was taken part them inside a vehicle. Like continuation to the investigations, in the localities of Villajoyosa and Ondara (Alicante), EMILIO F.C came itself to the halting of the antiucarios, 62 years and MIGUEL D.S., of 49 years, like buyers of the removed objects. After these haltings several registries in the premises took place and properties of the antique dealers and recovered diverse objects between which they emphasize paintings of great historical value coming from robberies in the Community of Navarre; as they are " Santo Christ of Towns ", painting dated from 1669 removed of the church of Viana, and the oil on linen cloth " Christ in Monte of the Olive trees ", removed of the Hermitage of Our Lady of the Caves, of the same locality. The operation continues open, since one of the stopped antique dealers, has maintained several commercial relations with citizens nationality German resident in the levantina coast, that has exported several works illicitly to their Country. More information or to record images of recovered works, can go to the Peripheral Office of Communication of the Command of Alicante, in the Telf. 965216611.
From: Jonathan Sazonoff saz@kwom.com
Subject: Television & Stolen Art
Dear Subscribers,
I'm off to New Orleans for a media convention NATPE www.napte.org I hope to be furthering a television presence for stolen art and cultural property; by promoting a search for the world's most wanted art. We'll be looking for development deals so if you know of any participants, please tell them about us www.saztv.com
The Internet and television are quickly evolving. These and other media should be better used to highlight missing cultural property. With some coordination, such efforts could help deter future thefts and bolster recovery efforts. Towards those ends SAZ Productions, Inc. has a database, contacts, camera, and that's just half the story
but enough about us.
Here is a brief review of resources about stolen art on TV ( US Broadcast & Cable). The cache' of stolen art has long been a popular story line. Television networks, cover art theft when it constitutes the "big news story". The Vanderbilt Television News Archive http://tvnews.vanderbilt.edu/ tracks the stories covered on the nightly news. In addition TV News Magazines also provide some coverage.
True crime is a popular TV genre. An occasional episode deals with stolen art. The newsgroup alt.truecrime has a contributor who notes plot and schedule of all such shows (browse, you'll find the listings. Appropriately, our associate Robert Spiel, has just completed filming a segment about the Gardner Theft for New Dominion's "DARING CAPERS" http://www.newdominion.com/ndpcap.htm Rather than leave specific programs out, I promise a fuller review in the near future.
Well, I've got to pack. I'll try to report back to the list with more items of interest. Any perspectives from those in the field and those in other countries would be most welcome. Email saz@webtv.net
Regards,
Jonathan Sazonoff
SAZ Productions, Inc.
www.saztv.com
From: Jonathan Sazonoff saz@kwom.com
Subject: Art Crime incidents
Dear Subscribers,
Several web sites have posted selected stolen art listings from the Museum Security Network. The dissemination of information is a good thing, but the editors need to do a little updateing.
Theft & Security Page at Joslin Hall Rare Books http://www.joslinhall.com/musn.htm
Missing from View! Cases from the Hot Sheet. http://www.artresources.com/departments/hot.sheet/
Hope you find this information useful,
SAZ Productions, Inc.
www.saztv.com
From: Jonathan Sazonoff saz@kwom.com
Subject: More stolen art on the web
Dear Subscribers,
Several stolen art web sites have recently come to our attention.
Italy has a searchable database(in Italian): Arma dei Carabinieri Tutela Patrimonio Artistico http://www.carabinieri.it/tpa/tpa.asp
Also, we were informed of a posting of stolen colonial paintings from Cali Columbia (multi lingual) STOLEN WORKS OF ART http://stolenart.colombianet.net/
We hope you find this information useful,
SAZ Productions, Inc.
www.saztv.com
From: Jonathan Sazonoff saz@kwom.com
Subject: Danish theft Rembrandt & Bellini
Dear Subscribers,
The government of Denmark has posted information (in Danish) about the recent theft of portraits by Rembrandt and Bellini. Although many on the list may not read Danish, the pictures speak for themselves. These are really beautiful works of art.
The thieves must have been connoiseurs.
http://www.politi.dk/polkreds/09hel/09hjaelp/Hjaelp%20politiet%20020299.htm
From: Jonathan Sazonoff saz@kwom.com
Subject: WWII looting of Asian art
Dear Subscribers,
In recent months this mailing list has put forth information on WWII/Holocaust looting; and has also broached the topic of stolen Asian art. At the risk of "opening a can of worms" for the museum community we discovered a posting that addresses WWII looting in Asia.
Recovery of Chinese Artworks
http://www.sandiegoonline.com/forums/chinese/htmls/artrecov.htm
Does anyone on the list have information or any comment on this rarely talked about issue?
SAZ Productions, Inc.
www.saztv.com
Museum To Return 3 Stolen Works
LOS ANGELES (AP) The J. Paul Getty Museum is returning three ancient works of art to Italy after determining they were stolen.
One sculpture sat in its collection for 17 years. The objects will be flown to Italy this week, along with pieces that were loaned to the museum for an antiquities exhibit, according to a statement issued by the Getty on Monday.
The stolen items are a terra cotta drinking cup from 480 B.C., found to have been illegally excavated from an archaeological site; a torso of the god Mithras from the 2nd century, found to have been stolen from a private Italian collection; and the sculpted head of a victorious athlete, a 2nd century Roman copy of an earlier Greek work, which was apparently taken from the storeroom of a scientific excavation.
For security reasons, the museum did not say how much the pieces are worth.
Although nobody claimed the works, Getty decided to return them based on information supplied by experts in the field and in consultation with Italian officials. International concern has been growing about rampant thefts of priceless art from collections and the looting of archaeological sites.
The billiondollar museum, located on a hill in the Brentwood area, opened in 1997.
From: Jonathan Sazonoff saz@kwom.com
Organization: SAZ PRODUCTIONS, INC.
Subject: UK Art Theft
Dear Subscribers,
Several recent UK web pages (about art theft) have come to our attention. The York City Art Gallery has a posting on their recent theft: http://www.york.gov.uk/heritage/museums/art/theftidx.html
Also, for more developements in the UK see Trace Magazine's Feb. issueNews in Brief
http://www.iow.trace.co.uk/newsearch/newsbrief_06.htm
We hope you find this information useful
Saz Productions, Inc.
www.saztv.com
From: Jonathan Sazonoff saz@kwom.com
Subject: WWII / Holocaust (Stolen Art Resources)
Dear Subscribers,
Several recent web pages have come to our attention. These sites should be of help to those interested in the field of WWII / Holocaust art restitution.
World Jewish Congress (WJC) Commission for Art Recovery has an important site with very good links. http://www.wjcartrecovery.org/
Also, the Arts Newspaper Jan. 1999 has a Holocaust Art story that contains links to recently uncovered information about Nazi's art market http://www.theartnewspaper.com/ (see links at bottom of page)
Also, the US Archive's have posted: Records and Research Relating to HolocaustEra Assets http://www.nara.gov/research/assets/sympos.html
There is a lot more to post, and offer comment on, but we'll leave that for another day.
Hope you find this information useful,
Saz Prod., Inc.
www.saztv.com
From: Jonathan Sazonoff saz@kwom.com
Subject: African artifact thefts
Dear Subscribers,
Mark Corcoran (Chief of Security, Western Reserve Historical Society) reminded the list of another theft of African ethnographic material that took place last year. To further refresh our memory (of these Great Lake Thefts) here is a related article from the Cleveland Plain Dealer:
Cleveland Museum of Art reveals theft of Nigerian "crown'
http://www.cleveland.com/news/pdnews/frontpage/cart.html
Also, we refer the reader to two articles on the wider issue of African looting. There is a lot of ethnographic material floating about on the market with questionable provenience.
ICOM Restitution
http://www.icom.nrm.se/restitution.html
Looters from hell
http://www.africalynx.com/icpubs/na/mar98/nacs0301.htm
Hope you find this information useful.
Saz Prod., Inc.
www.saztv.com
From: Jonathan Sazonoff saz@kwom.com
Subject: Support MSN in LA
Dear Subscribers,
Several items to share, first ICOM has published guidelines for WWII loot found in collections http://www.cs.reading.ac.uk/icom/worldwar2.html
Next, our friend and associate Robert Spiel will be on a panel at the National Cultural Property Conference next Wed. in LA. http://oitcsd.si.edu/other/opsconf.htm Additionally, Ton Cremes will be speaking on the role of MSN. I hope the attendees might consider some official recognition of the Museum Security Network's excellent work.
Finally, a geographic correction. In a recent stolen art post I misplaced the location of Slovenia (N. Adriatic coast) with that of Slovakia (E. portion of the former Czechoslovakia). There are Slovenians and Slovakians and this Midwesterner regrets his error.
Regards,
Jonathan Sazonoff
Saz Prod., Inc.
www.saztv.com
From: Jonathan Sazonoff saz@kwom.com
Subject: National Cultural Property Conference (A Response To Art Theft)
Dear Subscribers,
Just returned from the National Cultural Property Conference. My thanks to David Morrell of the Smithsonian and Wilbur Faulk of the Getty for their hospitality. I had the opportunity to shadow Robert Spiel, and in the process have some interesting news to report back. The conference, held in conjunction with ICMS, was like a mini UN. The smattering of different languages, booths with translators, wireless headsets, all added to the international ambiance. Here is a brief overview of the Wednesday sessions dealing with art theft. First, "Surviving a Collection Loss" brought forth a national team of experts. FBI Agents Lynn Chaffinch & Cathy Bagely see National Stolen Art File http://www.fbi.gov/art.htm; Donald Hrycyk, of the LAPD Art Theft Detail http://www.lapdonline.org/get_involved/stolen_art/art_theft_detail_main.htm And Robert Spiel, of Robert Spiel & Associates www.arttheft.com ; all put on fine presentations.
Next, "USA versus Art Thieves" featured Sharon Farb, Bob Wittman, Linda Vizi, Robert Goldman, highlighting lessons learned from recent cases of the FBI. These included the case of the Moche Gold, see http://www.upenn.edu/museum/moche.html, the recovery of Philadelphia's Civil War Swords, see http://museumsecurity.org/reports/02698.html and the case of the Stolen CivilWar Flag see http://museumsecurity.org/reports/000699.html.
As for the" International Panel", the Art Loss Register is examining the feasibility of posting all their records on line. David Shillingford (ALR) claims that having recently gained access to major European databases ALR's records could swell to over 500,000 items. There are security and accessibility issues still to be addressed, but we applaud their efforts. See their updated web site www.artloss.com . Also, on the international front, Pavel Jirasek (Czech Republic's Ministry of Culture) reported a decrease in his nation's number of art thefts. Jean Michele Memoran (sp?) discussed France's TRIMA database. For more info (in French) navigate Le signalement d'oeuvres d'art volées Oeuvres d'art recherchées l'Office Central de lutte contre le trafic des biens culturels http://www.interieur.gouv.fr/avis_recherche/index.htm
On a personal note, it was a pleasure to make new friendships and renew old ones. Special thanks to Ton Cremers, moderator of the Museum Security Network, for his kind words and encouragement. MSN has done an outstanding job providing a forum for cultural property information.
And finally, another geographic clarification. In an earlier post we mentioned LA. A reader reminds us the State of Louisiana is abbreviated as LA. Los Angeles in California site of the National Cultural Property Conference / ICMS is abbreviated as L.A. We apologize to anyone who found themselves on Bourbon Street because of this error.
Hope you find this information helpful, Jonathan Sazonoff
Saz Prod,. Inc.
www.saztv.com