Art Thefts In Russia

[DanM]

I thought everyone might be interested in this article about some high profile art thefts that have occured in Russia.  Of all the things in the world to steal, art seems like a difficult choice.  It's certainly not difficult to identify, and altering it destroys its value.  There are no chop shops for fine paintings, at least as far as I know.  That may not be true for ancient artifacts cast in bronze, gold, or silver, though.  Anyway, it's a sad testament to human nature that people steal artwork.  Everyone should be able to enjoy it.  Here's the link to the article.   

[url]http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/06/world/europe/06russia.html?ex=1312516800&en=84f5a2eb7b8b5b9b&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss [/url]

[Maximus]

Reminds me of that Pierce Brosnan movie.  You know, the movie in which he plays a bored multi-millionaire who steals art for fun.  Except that in this case, we're dealing with much less glamorous graft and deep-rooted corruption.

Art theft is actually a very interesting topic, and one I'd like to read more about.  If anyone has a book to recommend, please let me know.  I read something about the strange world of map-dealers (and theft), but have never delved into the world of art wheeling and dealing.

[MotherEarth]

Maybe this post should be a new topic...but does anyone know how the Russian Royal Family displayed the "eggs"?  We all have seen pictures of the known Fabrege Eggs and I was fortunate enough to see one in an exhibition in MS, how would you live with such an artwork?

Maybe Trumalia has commisioned one as a artifact!    Promise to care for it!

[DanM]

A Faberge egg would be a nice artifact indeed.  I too have seen a few of the eggs, and was simply amazed by the sheer opulence of the little treasures.  I know the eggs were created as Easter gifts (which is probably obvious), but I don't know if they remained under lock and key or were simply put on a shelf.

Either way, if an egg was a Trumalia artifact, I think I'd hire a team of riddle-crackers to get busy.   

[Firefly]

i somehow imagine the czars kept them in elaborate glass cases and let only their most esteemed guests handle them...  but i offer that with 100% certainty that i am incorrect.   

[chucklebunny]

Maybe this should be a new thread, but here is some info on the history of Faberge eggs in response to the question of how to display them:

Fabergé was 24 when he took over his father's jewelry shop in St. Petersburg, Russia. In 1885, Czar Alexander III commissioned him to craft an Easter gift for the Czarina Maria. Maria was so pleased with the egg and the jewelry within it, that the Czar ordered that Fabergé make her an egg every Easter.

The tradition continued for generations: A Czar's commissioning of the Faberge egg at Easter for his Czarina. The eggs are displayed on very elaborate gold stands that allow the eggs to be positioned upright and viewed in their full beauty.  I think the most wonderful thing about them is that they are all able to be opened.  I also would like to know where the royal family kept them within their home and who was able to see them!

Just as beautiful to me, perhaps because of the delicate quality and craftsmanship, are the Ukranian Pysanki eggs.  It's also appealing that they are accessable and made by anyone who can learn the skill, not just commissioned and owned by the wealthy.

[Firefly]

chucklebunny!  that's what i call a perfect response.     welcome to the art forum, and we hope to hear more from you.  now i have to wonder what they possibly kept inside the eggs, if anything.   

[chucklebunny]

More on Faberge..Inside the eggs were often elaborate gifts of jewels (as if the jewel encrusted egg wasn't enough).  I have seen amazing newer eggs with carvings inside - like miniature cities of onion domes.  I can't remember what that type of structure is called...the onion domes...anyone have an idea?  I know there are some really old onion dome structures, wooden roofed, still out there. There's a beautiful old one somewhere near Washington, DC  Does anyone know of any others in the US that stand out?

[MotherEarth]

Thanks, Chucklebunny...for mentioning "onion domes"..should have realized that my notion
of the shape was due to the snow in winter was incorrect.  I couldn't find any particular
name to the style but all I visited were English language sites.

"Onion shaped domes, symbolizing heaven in the Russian Orthodox tradition, were covered with wooden shingles. The onion domes reflected Byzantine design ideas and were strictly decorative. They were constructed of wood framing and served no structural function."

The shape is found in other cultures, brought to their areas by Persians(?)...doesn't seem to
be a structure that would be easy to build.