Three sculptures stolen from JAG

The Johannesburg Art Gallery has been hit by thieves again, the second time this year. This time, they stole bronze sculptures.
THREE valuable bronze artworks have been stolen from the Johannesburg Art Gallery (JAG), the second theft from the gallery this year.

Romano Romanelli; Peter Pan; unrecorded date; Bronze; 57cm (H) Romano Romanelli; Peter Pan; unrecorded date; Bronze; 57cm (H) The stolen works are King of the Universe by Ernest Ullman, Mourning Women by Sydney Kumalo and Peter Pan by Romano Romanelli. The theft took place on Sunday, 25 September.

“Staff at the gallery discovered the break in to the Contemporary Store of the Johannesburg Art Gallery on Sunday and after a quick inventory it became evident that three bronze sculptures had been stolen,” indicates a press statement from the gallery. “Two other bronze sculptures were found on the floor, wrapped and ready to be moved.”

A suspect has been apprehended. The matter is being handled by the SAPS Department of Endangered Species, working together with art experts.

Chief curator Antoinette Murdoch said that the suspect had been a gardener at the gallery, but had been retrenched recently along with three other gardeners. He was found trying to break into her office, where a bronze sculpture was on display on her desk.

She had called the gardeners into her office recently to tell them of the retrenchment, and he was possibly after this sculpture, having allegedly taken the other three already, she said.

The retrenchments were called for by the Friends of the Johannesburg Art Gallery, as a cost cutting measure.

She explained that the gardeners’ tools were stored in the passageway outside the storerooms, suggesting that the suspect had had an opportunity to notice the bronzes in the storeroom.

Sydney Kumalo; Mourning Woman; unrecorded date; bronze with wooden base; 33cm (H) Sydney Kumalo; Mourning Woman; unrecorded date; bronze with wooden base; 33cm (H) “The Johannesburg Art Gallery appeals to the public to be on the lookout for the artworks, which may turn up in scrap yards, pawn shops and even the black market,” she said. No news of the whereabouts of the three sculptures has been received.

In January this year, a rare 19th century Jules Dalou sculpture, entitled General Lazare Hoche, was stolen from the gallery, and has still not been recovered. “Investigations regarding this sculpture have since been closed due to lack of evidence.”

But she urges anyone with information to come forward, “before all tracks of these works are erased”.

After the January theft, four extra security staff were employed, bringing the number to 13. Murdoch said this was sufficient staff, but other security measures were being considered, subject to funding, particularly as thieves were also likely to develop more sophisticated methods of theft.

“To ramp up the security to the level recommended by experts, it will cost in the region of R1,5-million and we urgently appeal to the public for any assistance in this regard.”

She added: “The works owned by the Johannesburg Art Gallery do not only belong to the gallery, but to the public and are, as such, public treasures. We implore you to assist us in protecting and preserving our invaluable heritage.”