Florence Resnikoff’s “Reversible Marine Necklace” (1975) was among the many objects stolen. (all photos courtesy Oakland Museum of California)
Within the early morning hours of October 15, an unknown variety of suspects broke into an off-site storage facility housing assortment objects from the Oakland Museum of California, native police mentioned yesterday, October 29. Roughly 20 investigators from the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Artwork Crime Group have been assigned to the case, in accordance with the Oakland Police Division.
A spokesperson for the museum instructed Hyperallergic that among the many objects stolen have been two early Twentieth-century cooking baskets made by unnamed Native American artists, engraved walrus tusks from the early nineteenth century, and three modernist silver necklaces by jeweler Florence Resnikoff.
The spokesperson mentioned that the museum contacted the tribe affiliated with a number of the stolen objects, and it was requested that the tribe’s title not be disclosed to the general public.
A pair of scrimshaw walrus tusks by an unidentified artist, c. 1840, have been taken from the storage unit, in accordance with the museum.
In accordance with its web site, the museum maintains a set of roughly two million objects associated to California historical past, artwork, and environmental heritage, about 300,000 of that are on show.
The museum spokesperson instructed Hyperallergic that almost all of objects stolen have been “memorabilia from the everyday lives of Californians, including political pins, award ribbons, souvenir tokens, and similar items.” A number of daguerrotypes have been additionally stolen within the theft, and laptops have been additionally taken from the storage facility, in accordance with police.
Lori Fogarty, Oakland Museum of California govt director and CEO, characterised the theft in a press launch as a “brazen act that robs the public of our state’s cultural heritage.” Nearly all of the stolen objects had been gifted to the museum by donors, the director mentioned.
Oakland police didn’t specify what number of people have been concerned within the theft or disclose the situation of the storage facility.
The Oakland Police Division mentioned this afternoon that there have been no developments within the case for the reason that company introduced its investigation into the theft. The FBI is soliciting ideas from the general public.
