Stolen Henry Moore Bronze Sundial Recovered Three Arrested In Essex

stolen Henry Moore sundial

A bronze sundial by the Modernist British sculptor Henry Moore has been recovered by detectives after a television appeal on the popular British Crimewatch series.

The Henry Moore Foundation said: “We are thrilled about the return of Working Model For Sundial. We are hugely grateful to BBC Crimewatch, the public and in particular the excellent work by the police. The sculpture valued at up to £500,000 was irreplaceable. It disappeared from the grounds of Hoglands, the Perry Green, Hertfordshire museum  between 4.30 pm on Tuesday July 10th and 11am on Wednesday July 11th. Detectives are appealing for information following the theft of the 1965 artwork. The bronze measures 56cm high. Moore designed this piece for his own pleasure and positioned in a place where he could view it from his sitting room.

A monumental version of the sundial was also produced for a Chicago lakeside installation in 1966. This small scale version was likely the maquette for the larger version.Last year Christies broke the auction record for the most expensive work of British sculpture sold. The work of art, by Modernist Henry Moore depicted a reclining female figure resting, It sold for £19.1 million. Henry Moore, who lived 1898 to 1986, is regarded as one of Britain’s most important sculptors.  His work is known internationally. He left a significant collection of about 900 sculptures and works on paper to the Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto as no British museum was willing to build a purpose built gallery to house the masterpieces.

Three men, two aged 22 and one 19, all from Essex, have been arrested on suspicion of two counts of theft and are currently in police custody.

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