1. Thousands of Iraqi artifacts.
In March/April 2003, Iraqi cultural institutions and archaeological sites suffered outstanding losses of priceless historical artifacts. This is the most large-scale crime listed, since robbery and looting took inconceivable sizes. Among the missing were the diorite statue of King Entemena of Lavash, the Sumerian State, and almost 5 thousands of cylindrical seals. In February 2005, the FBI found and repatriated eight cylinder seals, and on July 25, 2006, announced the recovery of the statue of Entemena.
2. Rembrandt from Gardner Museum
3. Stolen Nativity
British Sky TV Corporation recently commissioned a highly accurate photocopy of Nativity, and now replica is hanging on the place of the original.
4. A violin having three names
This is perhaps the most cynical theft in the list. Stradivarius violin had been stolen from the New York apartment of Erica Morini in October 1995, while the 91-year-old musician was in the hospital. Most probably, the robbery was done by someone from the closest entourage of the owner. Erica’s friend, who reported a loss, has found no traces of tampering. Erica Morini died shortly after the theft. Since then, the violin is called Davidoff-Morini Stradivarius.
Left: Erica Morini playing the violin. Photo: AFP
5. Two Van Goghs
6. Theft with fireworks
7. Murals of the doyenne
8. Crime with dances
9. Miniature from the Green Continent
On June 10, 2007, A Cavalier, a self portrait in oil on wood panel by Dutch Master Frans Van Mieris, was stolen from the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. The masterpiece was stolen while the gallery was open for public viewing. The relatively small portrait -- it measures 20×16 cm -- is estimated at over $1 million.
Left: Frans Van Mieris, A Cavalier (a self-portrait).