Message:

<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Van_Poperin, post: 10189189, member: 16501&quot;]This story is definitely good fun—and the bust has indeed gone back to Germany! The likely circumstances of its removal meant that it had to be returned.</p><p><br /></p><p>Here are some quotes from another article, with some edits by me for expedience:</p><p><br /></p><p>“<i>Located in the German city Aschaffenburg, the Pompejanum (a full-scale replica of a Pompeii villa, commissioned in the 1840s by King Ludwig I of Bavaria [</i> - now a museum<i>]) faced heavy bombing during World War II. The site was restored and reopened in the 1960s, but by that time (or perhaps shortly after) the bust had “disappeared”. Some suspect it may have been taken by a U.S. soldier stationed in the area</i>.”</p><p><br /></p><p>Interior designer Laura Young, who found the bust at Goodwill in 2019 and subsequently tried to authenticate it in order to sell it, is quoted as saying: “<i>…I got an email from Bonhams confirming the head was indeed ancient Roman, but without provenance they “could be of no further assistance”</i>. <i>Soon after that, Sotheby’s got in touch </i>[to explain that they had identified the bust’s last owner, knew therefore that it was stolen, and wanted to explain to Young what her legal obligations were.] …<i>There were a few months of intense excitement after that, but it was bittersweet since I knew I couldn’t keep or sell the [bust]</i>.”</p><p><br /></p><p>Owing to the sensitive nature of the negotiations, and Covid, Young had to literally hide the bust (even from workmen) in her own home for around three years. To date, the donor who gave it to Goodwill has not come forward. After terms for the de-accession were agreed between Young’s lawyers and German officials, and after the bust was briefly displayed in Texas, it returned to the Pompejanum where it is now on display to the public.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]509427[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Article I quoted here, no paywall: <a href="https://news.artnet.com/art-world/ancient-roman-bust-texas-goodwill-repatriation-germany-2287242?amp=1" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://news.artnet.com/art-world/ancient-roman-bust-texas-goodwill-repatriation-germany-2287242?amp=1" rel="nofollow">https://news.artnet.com/art-world/ancient-roman-bust-texas-goodwill-repatriation-germany-2287242?amp=1</a>[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

Your name or email address:

Do you already have an account?

• No, create an account now.
• Yes, my password is:
• Forgot your password?

Stay logged in