[MSN] New Zealand. Art-broken over theft

[Museum Security Network Mailing list]

Art-broken over theft
By STEPHEN FORBES - Western Leader | Friday, 9 November 2007

Jane Connor is devastated by the theft of her prized artworks.

Several of the paintings and prints were stolen last month from a container in Saunders Place, Avondale.

Mrs Connor was in the process of moving when the pieces went missing.

"This is artwork I've owned for a number of years that has been in storage," she says.

"It was stolen as it was waiting in the container to be shipped down to Nelson."

Mrs Connor says security camera footage shows the offenders struck at night on November 1 and used a van to take her belongings.

The stolen gear includes a monoprint by Stanley Palmer commissioned for Mrs Connor's publishing house Godwit, four paintings by Wellington artist and writer Gregory O'Brien, a painting by Auckland artist Ian Scott and a print by Nigel Brown commissioned for the cover of a novel.

Ms Connor says some of the household items that were also stolen have since been found discarded in a skip bin outside K-Mart in Henderson, but the prized artworks remain missing.

"The items are significant because of their connection with one of New Zealand's most distinguished independent publishing houses," Mrs Connor says.

"They are of enormous value to me because of their association with important New Zealand books and because I have come to know the artists well during my career in publishing."


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