Missing artifacts could bring high prices at shops
Police, FBI continue investigation

By Ram Luthra
Staff Reporter

The Peruvian, pre-Columbian pottery pieces, which were stolen from a basement storage room in the Mary Couts Burnett Library, could most likely be individually sold to local antique shops, said Jennifer Casler Price, a specialist in non-Western art and works at the Kimball Art Museum.

“My biggest worry that arises from this situation is that the person who stole the artifacts will sell them piece by piece at an antique shop or at a craft mall,” Price said. “The person will have a better likelihood to get away with this if sold individually. If they are split up, it would become more difficult to re-obtain them.”

She said that even if the pieces were sold individually, they would still maintain their value on the market.

“These artifacts can probably maintain all their value and even be sold for more, if they are sold one by one,” she said. “This is mainly because no red flags could be raised if they were sold this way.”

Thomas Guderjan, professor of anthropology, said he does not believe the value of the pieces would be diminished if they were sold separately.

“If they are sold to the right people, they can have the same value if it was sold as a group,” Guderjan said.

The 112 artifacts stolen, valued approximately at $267,700, were specifically from northern parts of Peru and made from mold and clay. The artifact pieces were originally made as containers for storage. They were created to symbolize animal and human imagery.

“Basically, the pieces were made for the use of everyday life for these people,” Price said. “Ultimately, they would have been placed in tombs as a burial practice.”

TCU Police authorities contacted Price for assistance and also showed her photographs of all the pieces taken.

“From the pictures I have seen, on the whole, they were all of good quality,” she said. “Overall, the condition they were in, indicated that they were properly taken care of.”

They also discussed the possibility of the suspects selling the artifacts to several area dealers. She said many dealers and private collectors are in the Metroplex, especially in the Dallas area.

Kelly Ham, TCU detective of criminal investigations, said FBI and police department officials continue to work on the investigations, but he could not comment on any specifics.

However, Ham said, if anyone has any information on the case they should contact TCU Police at (817) 257-7777.