During the night from Tuesday to Wednesday, September 13, 2023, unknown persons have stolen several pieces from the collection of the Museum of East Asian Art (MOK). Stolen were nine Chinese porcelains dating from the 16th to the 19th century, all from an imperial context. The financial damage is estimated at over one million euros.
Museum Director Dr. Shao-Lan Hertel surveyed the damage shortly after the burglary and is "stunned and deeply affected". She emphasizes: It shocks me to see our house confronted with such damage just two months after I took up my post. More than the financial loss, it hurts that almost all of the stolen exhibits were part of the founding collection that Mr. and Mrs. Fischer acquired for the museum between 1906 and 1911.
Hertel emphasizes: Since the objects are well documented and recognizable, we have hope that one day they will turn up and find their way back into our collection. That is my greatest wish and ultimate goal. We will do everything we can to assist in the investigative work. A yellow bowl from the Ming Dynasty had been donated to the museum by the Fördererkreis as recently as 2015.
Stefan Charles, We will immediately begin the workup and, of course, intensively review how we can increase the security of the museum.
Anna Melnykova, "Palace of Labor (palats praci), architector I. Pretro, 1916", shot with analog Canon camera, 35 mm Fuji film in March 2022.
ArtDependence Magazine is an international magazine covering all spheres of contemporary art, as well as modern and classical art.
ArtDependence features the latest art news, highlighting interviews with today’s most influential artists, galleries, curators, collectors, fair directors and individuals at the axis of the arts.
The magazine also covers series of articles and reviews on critical art events, new publications and other foremost happenings in the art world.
If you would like to submit events or editorial content to ArtDependence Magazine, please feel free to reach the magazine via the contact page.
