Summary: The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum art theft nets a bronze Chinese beaker, a bronze flag topper, an etching and 10 paintings March 18, 1990.
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| ca. 1200-1100 BC gu, bronze beaker dating to ancient Chinese Shang Dynasty, removed from Boston's Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum during March 1990 art heist: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Art Crime Team, Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons |
A bronze Chinese beaker called a gu accomplished ancient ornamental and ritual purposes and advanced modern appreciation of China's Shang Dynasty until the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum art theft March 18, 1990.
The theft of an art object boded well for two thieves who braved motion detector systems and broke into local alarms and simple video surveillance systems. It called attention to itself atop a velvet-covered table by conjuring up anonymity amid similar Oriental vases elsewhere and portability during attempted fences and multiple ownerships. Delays from a heavy painting did not discourage two thieves disguised as Boston policemen from devoting 10 minutes to detaching the beaker from its metal placeholder.
The Dutch Room's beaker and the Short Gallery's finial (flag topper) end up as sole art objects alongside the missing etching and the 10 missing paintings.
The bronze Chinese beaker fits into categories as the most ancient art object and as the oldest artwork ferreted from the museum in Boston's Fenway neighborhood.
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| sketch of two suspects, disguised as police officers, who gained entry into Boston's Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum for purposes of art theft, March 18, 1990: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Public Domain, via FBI Art Crime Team |
The bronze Chinese beaker fits into categories as the most ancient art object and as the oldest artwork ferreted from the museum in Boston's Fenway neighborhood.
Museum provenance and purchase records give the ceremonial container from China's Shang Dynasty a date of 1200 to 1100 B.C. and an age of 3,000-plus years. Mrs. John Lowell Gardner's (April 14, 1840-July 17, 1924) Museum inventories give the ancient bronze ritual beaker a 10.44-inch (26.5-centimeter) height and a 6.12-inch (15.6-centimeter) diameter. The second-floor Dutch Room's bronze Shang Dynasty container historically has a heavy metal base to hold onto a table in front of a 17th-century Spanish painting. The portrait of A Doctor of Law by Extremadura-born Spanish painter Francisco de Zurbarán (Nov. 7, 1598-Aug. 27, 1664) in 1635 is alongside an empty frame.
The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum art theft juxtaposes an empty place-holding frame for a Rembrandt seascape and an empty place-holding table for a bronze Chinese beaker.
The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum archives in Boston, Massachusetts know of the Chinese Shang Dynasty ceremonial, ritual container as an ancient, intricately patterned, 2.44-pound (1.11-kilogram) bronze.
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| "A Doctor of Law (Un Doctor en Leyes)," ca. 1635 oil on canvas by Spanish Golden Age painter Francisco de Zurbarán; Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum's stolen gu was displayed in second-floor Dutch Room, on table in front of this rare example of portrait painting by Zurbarán: Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons |
The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum archives in Boston, Massachusetts know of the Chinese Shang Dynasty ceremonial, ritual container as an ancient, intricately patterned, 2.44-pound (1.11-kilogram) bronze.
Museum records list Parish-Watson & Co. Inc., art dealers in New York City, New York, in Mrs. Gardner's acquisition of the ancient Chinese Shang Dynasty bronze. They mention Denman Waldo Ross (Jan. 10, 1853-Sept. 12, 1935), Harvard University art professor and MFA trustee, making the Museum's first, $17,500 payment Dec. 14, 1922. They note Harry W. Swift, State Street Trust Company on Huntington Avenue, signing check no. 2254 for $9,500 April 13, 1923 on Mrs. Gardner's behalf.
The "2nd final payment on acct of bronze beaker of the Shang Period (1783-1123 B.C.)" obtained the oldest Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum art theft casualty.
The first-floor Macknight Room, the second-floor Dutch, Early Italian and Raphael Rooms, Little Salon and Short Gallery and the third-floor Long Gallery preserve the Museum's metalwork.
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| Empty frame memorializes Rembrandt's "Christ in the Storm on the Sea of Galilee;" Francisco de Zurbarán's A Doctor of Law hangs to the right of the missing seascape; empty table in front of portrait by Zurbarán awaits return of stolen Shang Dynasty gu: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons |
The first-floor Macknight Room, the second-floor Dutch, Early Italian and Raphael Rooms, Little Salon and Short Gallery and the third-floor Long Gallery preserve the Museum's metalwork.
The second floor qualifies as the heaviest metal location, with the Dutch Room alone queueing up a silver ostrich, one silver tankard and three silver boxes. The decision to remove the ancient bronze, with its enigmatic taotie motif, and to resist younger brass, bronze and silver metalwork elsewhere remains an insightful move. The zoomorphic (ζωον [zoōn] for animal and μορφη [morphē] for form) masks stand out on the slim mid-section between the beaker's flared base and trumpet-like mouth.
Usefulness for drinking wine perhaps tempts the bronze Chinese beaker most, of all the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum art theft casualties, to use in plain sight.
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| "Mrs. Gardner in White," watercolor on paper painted by John Singer Sargent (Jan. 12, 1856-April 14, 1925) in 1922, the year in which first payment was made, on Isabella Stewart Gardner's behalf, for ca. 1200-1100 BC gu; portrait by the leading American Renaissance portrait painter is displayed in the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum's first-floor Macknight Room: Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons |
Acknowledgment
My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.
Image credits:
Image credits:
ca. 1200-1100 BC gu, bronze beaker dating to ancient Chinese Shang Dynasty, removed from Boston's Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum during March 1990 art heist: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Art Crime Team, Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ku_robbed_from_Isabella_Stewart_Gardner_Musuem.gif
sketch of two suspects, disguised as police officers, who gained entry into Boston's Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum for purposes of art theft, March 18, 1990: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Public Domain, via FBI Art Crime Team @ https://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/5-million-reward-offered-for-return-of-stolen-gardner-museum-artwork
"A Doctor of Law (Un Doctor en Leyes)," ca. 1635 oil on canvas by Spanish Golden Age painter Francisco de Zurbarán; Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum's stolen gu was displayed in second-floor Dutch Room, on table in front of this rare example of portrait painting by Zurbarán: Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Francisco_de_Zurbarán_-_Doctor_of_Law.jpg
Empty frame memorializes Rembrandt's "Christ in the Storm on the Sea of Galilee;" Francisco de Zurbarán's A Doctor of Law hangs to the right of the missing seascape; empty table in front of portrait by Zurbarán awaits return of stolen Shang Dynasty gu: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Empty_Frames_at_Isabella_Stewart_Gardner_Museum.jpg
"Mrs. Gardner in White," watercolor on paper painted by John Singer Sargent (Jan. 12, 1856-April 14, 1925) in 1922, the year in which first payment was made, on Isabella Stewart Gardner's behalf, for ca. 1200-1100 BC gu; portrait by the leading American Renaissance portrait painter is displayed in the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum's first-floor Macknight Room: Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mrs._Gardner_in_White_(1922)_by_John_Singer_Sargent.jpg
For further information:
For further information:
"18 U.S. Code § 668 - Theft of Major Artwork." Cornell University Law School > Legal Information Institute > U.S. Code > Title 18 > Part I > chapter 31 > 668.
Available @ https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/668?quicktabs_8=1#quicktabs-8
Available @ https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/668?quicktabs_8=1#quicktabs-8
Baker, Billy. 10 March 2015. "Gardener Keeps Gardner Museum's Atrium in Bloom." Boston Globe > Metro.
Available @ https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2015/03/09/gardener-keeps-gardner-atrium-bloom/bbSZctlMtkEDy9UDYWrO4K/story.html
Available @ https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2015/03/09/gardener-keeps-gardner-atrium-bloom/bbSZctlMtkEDy9UDYWrO4K/story.html
Boston Landmarks Commission. Report on the Potential Designation of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum as a Landmark under Chapter 772 of the Acts of 1975, as Amended.
Available @ https://www.cityofboston.gov/images_documents/ISGM%20Study%20Report%20as%20Amended_tcm3-39717.pdf
Available @ https://www.cityofboston.gov/images_documents/ISGM%20Study%20Report%20as%20Amended_tcm3-39717.pdf
"Collection." Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum.
Available @ http://www.gardnermuseum.org/collection
Available @ http://www.gardnermuseum.org/collection
FBI. 15 November 2005. "FBI Announces Top Ten Art Crimes." Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) > News > Stories > 2005 > November.
Available via FBI @ https://archives.fbi.gov/archives/news/stories/2005/november/topten_art111505
Available via FBI @ https://archives.fbi.gov/archives/news/stories/2005/november/topten_art111505
FBI. 8 March 2013. "Gardner Museum in Boston Offering $5 Million Reward for Stolen Art." YouTube.
Available @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DpD1HbcFfQ
Available @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DpD1HbcFfQ
FBI Boston Division. "Boston FBI Continues Hunt for Stolen Artwork." Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) > Boston Division > Press Releases > 2010.
Available via FBI @ https://archives.fbi.gov/archives/boston/press-releases/2010/bs031510.htm
Available via FBI @ https://archives.fbi.gov/archives/boston/press-releases/2010/bs031510.htm
FBI Boston Division. "FBI Provides New Information Regarding the 1990 Isabella Stewart Gardner Art Heist." Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) > Boston Division > Press Releases > 2013.
Available via FBI @ https://archives.fbi.gov/archives/boston/press-releases/2013/fbi-provides-new-information-regarding-the-1990-isabella-stewart-gardner-museum-art-heist
Available via FBI @ https://archives.fbi.gov/archives/boston/press-releases/2013/fbi-provides-new-information-regarding-the-1990-isabella-stewart-gardner-museum-art-heist
"The Gardner Museum Theft." Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) > FBI Top Ten Art Crimes.
Available @ https://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/5-million-reward-offered-for-return-of-stolen-gardner-museum-artwork
Available @ https://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/5-million-reward-offered-for-return-of-stolen-gardner-museum-artwork
"Johannes Vermeer: The Complete Works." Vermeer Foundation.
Available @ http://www.vermeer-foundation.org/
Available @ http://www.vermeer-foundation.org/
Marriner, Derdriu. 3 February 2017. "Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum Art Theft: Flinck Obelisk." Earth and Space News. Friday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2017/02/isabella-stewart-gardner-museum-art.html
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2017/02/isabella-stewart-gardner-museum-art.html
Marriner, Derdriu. 20 January 2017. "Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum Art Theft: Rembrandt Couple." Earth and Space News. Friday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2017/01/isabella-stewart-gardner-museum-art_20.html
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2017/01/isabella-stewart-gardner-museum-art_20.html
Marriner, Derdriu. 13 January 2017. "Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum Art Theft: Rembrandt Seascape." Earth and Space News. Friday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2017/01/isabella-stewart-gardner-museum-art_13.html
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2017/01/isabella-stewart-gardner-museum-art_13.html
Marriner, Derdriu. 6 January 2017. "Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum Art Theft: Rembrandt Self-Portrait." Earth and Space News. Friday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2017/01/isabella-stewart-gardner-museum-art.html
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2017/01/isabella-stewart-gardner-museum-art.html
Marriner, Derdriu. 27 January 2017. "Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum Art Theft: Vermeer Concert." Earth and Space News. Friday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2017/01/isabella-stewart-gardner-museum-art_27.html
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2017/01/isabella-stewart-gardner-museum-art_27.html
Mashberg, Tom. March 1998. "Stealing Beauty." Vanity Fair > Culture.
Available @ http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/1998/03/biggest-art-heist-us-history
Available @ http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/1998/03/biggest-art-heist-us-history
Mashberg, Tom. 26 February 2015. "Isabella Stewart Gardner Heist: 25 Years of Theories." New York Times > Arts > Art & Design.
Available @ http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/01/arts/design/isabella-stewart-gardner-heist-25-years-of-theories.html?_r=0
Available @ http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/01/arts/design/isabella-stewart-gardner-heist-25-years-of-theories.html?_r=0
Murphy, Shelley. 17 March 2015. "Search for Artworks from Gardner Heist Continues 25 Years Later." Boston Globe > Metro.
Available @ https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2015/03/17/gardner-museum-art-heist-one-boston-most-enduring-mysteries-years-later/9U3tp1kJMa4Zn4uClI1cdM/story.html
Available @ https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2015/03/17/gardner-museum-art-heist-one-boston-most-enduring-mysteries-years-later/9U3tp1kJMa4Zn4uClI1cdM/story.html
"Reputed Mobster Arrested, Reportedly Tried to Fence Gardner Museum Art." The Boston Globe > Posted Apr 17, 2015 at 3:14 PM > Updated Apr 18, 2015 at 10:52 PM.
Available @ http://www.telegram.com/article/20150417/NEWS/304179654
Available @ http://www.telegram.com/article/20150417/NEWS/304179654
"Thirteen Works: Explore the Gardner's Stolen Art." Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum > Resources > Theft.
Available @ http://www.gardnermuseum.org/resources/theft
Available @ http://www.gardnermuseum.org/resources/theft
Thomson, Jason. 3 May 2016. "Isabella Stewart Gardner Theft: Is the Massive Art Heist About to be Solved?" The Christian Science Monitor > USA > USA Update.
Available @ http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/USA-Update/2016/0503/Isabella-Stewart-Gardner-theft-Is-the-massive-art-heist-about-to-be-solved
Available @ http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/USA-Update/2016/0503/Isabella-Stewart-Gardner-theft-Is-the-massive-art-heist-about-to-be-solved
WBUR. "'The Concert' by Johannes Vermeer." YouTube. March 17, 2010.
Available @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrPqiGIJYYs
Available @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrPqiGIJYYs
WBUR. 12 March 2009. "Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum Heist." YouTube.
Available @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irBRWMMHOI8
Available @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irBRWMMHOI8
Williams, Paige. March 2010. "The Art of the Story." Boston Magazine > Gardner Museum > Gardner Museum Theft.
Available @ http://www.bostonmagazine.com/2010/03/gardner-heist/3/
Available @ http://www.bostonmagazine.com/2010/03/gardner-heist/3/
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