[CPProt.net] Stolen Statue Recovered

[Museum Security Network / Cultural Property Protection Net (Ton Cremers)]

Stolen Statue Recovered
By Chris Falcone 

A bizarre story reminiscent of a David Copperfield stunt surfaced when a
3,000-pound piece of art seemingly vanished into thin air.

The mammoth statute, which was in the process of being prepared to ship to
the University for permanent residence, was later found in the possession of
a scrap dealer from the Bronx.

"We are relieved that it has been returned and we look forward to its
arrival here at the University," said David Christman, director of the
museum. 

The bronze sculpture, "Ides of March," by Philip Pavia was stolen from the
Hippodrome in New York City, where it had resided since 1988. The sculpture
spent the previous 25 years at the entrance of the New York Hilton,
according to an article in the New York Times.

The reason for the move to campus was the renovation of the Hippodrome
building from offices into what will be eventually condominiums, leaving the
artwork without a place to call home. The

University's name arose when fellow artist and sculptor Paul Jenkins, who
already has work displayed at the University, told Pavia about the campus
and its high reputation for caring for its artwork, Christman

said. An agreement was reached and the University became the intended
recipient. The piece, a 1962 four part bronze statue of enigmatic diamond
shapes with a low lying connecting arm was considered one of the artist's
favorite works. However, while being held in a storage area in preparation
for its move to the University as a gift, three of the four pieces turned up
missing. Pavia chose to name it after his March 15 birthday and compared its
loss as a death in the family.

"It's not the easiest thing to pick up and take away," said Doug Sarini,
spokesman for the Hippodrome. As administrators from the University were
prepping for the arrival of the work, they had made two trips to the
Hippodrome to inspect the piece. On returning for the second inspection on
March 26, they discovered it to be one-fourth of its original self,
Christman said. 

With only one piece remaining and authorities baffled as to the whereabouts
of the missing pieces, a scrap dealer appeared on the scene and was caught
trying to takethe last piece from the Hippodrome. A few days later another
scrap dealer from the Bronx returned the three missing pieces to police
after learning that they had been reported stolen. He then notified
authorities of who had sold him the stolen property, which is currently
under investigation.

The University accepted the gift on behalf of the museum and was awaiting
the arrival of the prized art when word of its disappearance became known. 

The arrival date, however, is still in question as the piece undergoes
needed repairs. One part of the repairs is due to he theft, Christman said,
while the rest of the repairs are due to the age of the piece. 

"After forty plus years you could say it needs a little tune-up," he said.

Pavia was considered a figurehead of the mid-century avant garde, according
to the New York Times article and was said to be heartbroken over the work's
disappearance. Speaking on behalf of her 94-year-old husband, Natalie Edgar
expressed relief over the recovery of Pavia's work, known as his
masterpiece, "which he called a piece of beauty and a piece of New York."

"It certainly adds to the beauty of the campus and the visual landscape
here," Melissa Connolly, assistant vice president of University Relations,
who is a fan of the numerous pieces of art on campus, said. "It aids Hofstra
as an arboretum and brings life to the campus as a place for reflection and
study." 

http://www.hofstrachronicle.com/