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December 11, 2006

Bronze sculpture stolen from late actor's Bristol estate

BRISTOL -- A 6-foot-tall, 500-pound bronze sculpture created by the late actor Anthony Quinn was stolen from the front lawn of his estate, and the curator for Quinn's trust fears it will be melted down and sold as scrap.

The sculpture, titled "Mercedes Woman," was made in 1990 and is valued at more than $250,000, curator Benjamin Bergenholtz said today. Quinn's widow, Katherine Quinn, noticed the sculpture missing last week, and the estate called the police.

"Mrs. Quinn is really just interested in getting it back -- no questions asked," Bergenholtz said. "She just wants the piece back."

Quinn's estate is offering a $1,500 reward for information leading to the sculpture's recovery, Bergenholtz said. While the thief may have stolen the sculpture because of its value as art, he said he fears it will sell as scrap because the price of bronze has gone up in the last year.

-- The Associated Press

The estate was in the process of moving its outdoor sculptures to secure locations, prompted by the theft last December of a bronze statue from the Henry Moore Foundation's headquarters in London.

"Mercedes Woman" was scheduled to be moved later this month. Katherine Quinn noticed the sculpture missing when she went to inspect it in preparation for the move, Bergenholtz said.

Quinn died in 2001 at the age of 86. He had lived in Bristol for the last years of his life. His trust owns 3,000 pieces of art, including pieces he made and collected.

Quinn starred in 100 feature films, including a role as the fierce Bedouin leader in "Lawrence of Arabia" in 1962, and the earthy hero of the 1964 film "Zorba the Greek."

Posted by Kate Bramson at 6:34 PM | Permalink

December 11, 2006

Bronze sculpture stolen from late actor's Bristol estate

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