Stolen Art Watch, Rookwood That's No-Good !!

Hilliard auction house offers reward for stolen pottery

By BRUCE CADWALLADER

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

http://www.columbusdispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/02/29/belhorn_web.html?sid=101

Thieves hijacked a load of American pottery from a Hilliard business this week by hitching a pickup to a white cargo trailer and driving off with it, the auction company said tonight.

Belhorn Auction Services at 4114 Anson Dr., near Lyman Drive and Cemetery Road, has surveillance photos of a white Ford-150 truck, taken as it drove off with the stolen artwork at 9:40 p.m. Monday, owner Greg Belhorn said. Police found two locks on the lot broken off the trailer and its hitch, he said.

The theft occurred about 9:40 p.m. Monday.

The unmarked, American Hauler trailer, also white, contained about $40,000 worth of pottery being catalogued for auction at the American Art Pottery Association convention in April near Philadelphia.

A $5,000 reward is being offered for the recovery of the stolen property or the arrest of those responsible, Belhorn said. Photos of some of the 175 missing pieces of art and the truck can be viewed online at www.belhorn.com

Belhorn said that to many, the vases, pottery and ceramic items would appear mundane. The stolen items included such things as Van Briggle vases and pitchers; a Rookwood Vellum vase from 1918; and a Weller jardinière. Some of the items also are reproductions, used for educational purposes by the association.

Belhorn thinks the thieves have realized by now they don't want what they stole and might be willing to return it.

"I suspect they were looking for tools, lawn mowers or something along those lines. To them, this is probably worthless cargo. On the antiques market, the value is between $30,000 and $40,000," Belhorn said.

Anyone with information should contact Hilliard police at (614) 876-7321 or Belhorn at (614) 921-9441.

bcadwallader@dispatch.com

Art Hostage comments:

I feel a sting coming on !!

Recovering these items will be like taking candy from a Baby if the thieves think they can realise on their ill-gotten gains.