Sunday, July 22, 2012

Stolen Art Watch, Moore The Merrier As Travellers Stung By One Of Their Own

Stolen bronze Henry Moore sculpture worth £500,000 recovered following TV appeal

A bronze sculpture worth £500,000 stolen from the former home of British artist and sculptor Henry Moore has been recovered by detectives after a televised appeal for information.

The Sundial, created by Moore in 1965 as a working model for a larger sculpture, was found at an undisclosed location after an inquiry by Hertfordshire Police led to the arrest of three men on suspicion of theft.

A bronze sculpture by Henry Moore, valued at up to £500,000, was stolen from the grounds of a Hertfordshire museum dedicated to the artist

A bronze sculpture by Henry Moore, valued at up to £500,000, was stolen from the grounds of a Hertfordshire museum dedicated to the artist

The distinctive 22in-high artwork was taken from the grounds of The Henry Moore Foundation, near Much Hadham, Hertfordshire, overnight between July 10 and July 11.

A senior officer appeared on BBC1’s Crimewatch on Thursday to appeal for information about the theft.

British artist Henry Moore, who died in 1986, became well known for his large-scale abstract cast bronze and carved marble sculptures.

British artist Henry Moore, who died in 1986, became well known for his large-scale abstract cast bronze and carved marble sculptures.

Following the programme, a member of the public called in regarding the sculpture, which was recovered along with a bronze plinth taken from the foundation last Sunday.

Three men, two aged 22 and one 19, all from Essex, have been arrested on suspicion of two counts of theft and are in police custody.

Lesley Wake, chief operating officer at The Henry Moore Foundation, said: ‘The foundation is thrilled about the return of model for Sundial.

'We are hugely grateful to Crimewatch, the public and Hertfordshire Police.’

The Sundial is the latest work by Moore, who died in 1986 aged 88, to be targeted by thieves.

The foundation carried out a security review after the theft of the two-ton Reclining Figure in December 2005.

In 2010, Moore’s £45,000 painting Three Reclining Figures On Pedestals was stolen from a gallery in Broadway, Worcestershire.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Member of public called Crimewatch, loada bollocks, the grass is known