Art Market Monitor

Global Coverage ~ Unique Analysis

  • AMMpro
  • AMM Fantasy Collecting Game
  • Podcast
  • Contact Us

Pretoria Museum Scene of Art Theft

November 12, 2012 by Marion Maneker

South Africa is the scene of the latest art museum heist where $2m worth of art was stolen, according to the LA Times:

According to South African police, the thieves arrived posing as an art lecturer and two students and paid the $1.20 admission fee.

Once inside, the men held up a security guard, Daywood Khans, at gunpoint and pulled out a list of the works they wanted. They grabbed the six paintings from the wall and left the building, police said.

In addition to the Stern painting, they took works by Gerard Sekoto, J.H. Pierneef, Maggie Laubser and Hugo Naude.

“They pulled out a list and said they were looking for so-and-so painting, which is among our old masterpieces,” Khans said in a local radio interview. “They left one of the paintings behind when it did not fit into their getaway car.”

The painting they left behind was Irma Stern’s Two Malay Musicians which was, by far, the most valuable of the works.

Art Worth $2m Stolen from South African Museum (Los Angeles Times)

More from Art Market Monitor

  • Christe’s London Cont Eve HighlightsChriste’s London Cont Eve Highlights
  • African Art Needs Its Own Ullens to Take OffAfrican Art Needs Its Own Ullens to Take Off
  • Unseen for 80 Years, Two Rare Sculptures by Pioneering Egyptian Modernist to Debut at AuctionUnseen for 80 Years, Two Rare Sculptures by Pioneering Egyptian Modernist to Debut at Auction
  • How We’ll Really Know If the Damien Hirst Show in Venice Is SellingHow We’ll Really Know If the Damien Hirst Show in Venice Is Selling
  • Zhang Xiaogang Works Hard to Move On as an ArtistZhang Xiaogang Works Hard to Move On as an Artist
  • The New Breed of Curator-Party PromotersThe New Breed of Curator-Party Promoters

Filed Under: General

About Marion Maneker

LiveArt

Want to get Art Market Monitor‘s posts sent to you in our email? Sign up below by clicking on the Subscribe button.

  • About Us/ Contact
  • Podcast
  • AMMpro
  • Newsletter
  • FAQ

twitterfacebooksoundcloud
Privacy Policy
Terms & Conditions
California Privacy Rights
Do Not Sell My Personal Information
Advertise on Art Market Monitor
 

Loading Comments...