Sherry Chandler

Cultural thuggery

A correspondent writes:

Have been reading Larry McMurtry’s book on frontier slaughters. Wounded Knee massacre stemmed from white’s fears of the Ghost Dance–a religious cultural movement of the native Americans not dissimilar to other 19th Century Millenial belief systems such as the 7th day adventists. Cultural thuggery &n ignorance seem to be on the move again in a big way now whether in Iraq or with these British louts who steal their cultural heritage to sell for scrap.

The thefts the writer refers to are explained here in The Guardian:

A huge, modernist sculpture has disappeared from a university campus in west London, heightening fears that monumental bronzes are being targeted by thieves cashing in on booming scrap metal prices. One of The Three Watchers, a set of figures created by Lynn Chadwick in 1960 and estimated to be worth £300,000, was stolen from the grounds of Roehampton University after being snapped off at the feet.

The theft occurred less than a month after a gigantic Henry Moore figure was driven away from a sculpture park in Hertfordshire. Both statues were taken at night.

The Metropolitan police’s art and antiques unit said yesterday that as many as 20 similar thefts of bronze artworks had been reported in and around the capital within the past year. The officer leading the investigation urged sculpture owners to protect them or move them indoors last night.

Soaring scrap prices have opened up an opportunity for gangs to pocket a quick profit. The Henry Moore sculpture, taken in mid-December, was believed to be worth around £5,000 if melted down; the Chadwick may fetch as little as £1,000.

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