About them can’t forget to this day.
It happens that the love of money causes people to turn to crime and theft in this case – the easiest and most efficient way to do it. In our review of the 10 most acclaimed and most expensive thefts. Some of the stolen artifacts have been discovered while others disappeared without a trace, but hope that they will be found, remains.
1. Faberge Eggs
A series of jewelry firm of Carl Faberge, known as the fabergé egg, created in 1885 – 1917. All were 71 Easter surprise, of which 52 eggs goldsmiths was commissioned by the Emperor. To have survived only 62 balls, of which the Imperial – 54. The rest was considered lost and disappeared without a trace. It remains to add that in 1917 the cost of each egg Fab
2. The bones of a Tyrannosaurus Rex
Tyrannosaurus is a bipedal carnivore with a massive skull balanced by a hard and a long tail. His front legs compared to the back was very small, but extremely powerful. This lizard considered the largest species in its family and the largest land predator in the history of our planet.
In 1945 in Mongolia were found the remains of this dinosaur, and then his entire skeleton. In 2012 a Eric Prokopi stole some bones and decided to sell them for 1.1 million dollars. A grief-the seller was in prison, and the bones returned to the Museum.
3. The Painting “The Scream” By Edvard Munch
“The scream” a series of paintings of the artist-expressionist Edvard Munch created in 1893 – 1910. It was created four versions of the painting, and each is depicted screaming in despair the human figure on the background of generalized landscape background and a blood-red sky.
In 1994, the painting was stolen from the National gallery, but after a few months returned to the place. In 2004 “the Scream” and several works stolen from the Munch Museum. Returned to their place only in 2006, however, with the damage. In may 2008, after the restoration of the paintings was returned to exposure.
4. Ruby Slippers
In 1939 Hollywood released the film “the Wizard of Oz”, which became one of the most successful in the history of cinema. The film was used 4 pairs of shoes, which did not differ from each other. In these so-called “ruby Slippers” in the film the main character walked Dorothy, whose role was played by Judy garland.
One of the pairs of ruby Slippers was at the Judy garland Museum in Minnesota. But in 2005, they disappeared from the Museum, and it is still unknown where this legendary pair of shoes. The cost of the shoes is estimated at $203 million
5. Stradivarius Violin
Antonio Stradivari – master, a well-known manufacturer of very high quality and most expensive stringed instruments. Widely known musical instruments that were made in the period from 1689 to 1725.
The famous violinist Erica Morini (1904 – 1995) was playing on the Stradivarius violin made in 1727. One day, someone broke into her apartment and stole the legendary violin. Morini died, and the violin has never been found. The cost of this unique instrument today is estimated at $ 3.5 million.
6. Van Gogh Paintings
Vincent van Gogh — Dutch post-impressionist artist – over 10 years has created over 2,100 paintings, among which about 860 oil paintings. But really he became famous only after his death. Even a small his paintings were worth a lot of money.
From the van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam was stolen 2 paintings – “view of the sea at Scheveningen” and “Congregation Leaving the Reformed Church in Nuenen” – the total cost of which is estimated at $ 30 million. The thieves were caught and jailed, but the paintings in the Museum and never returned.
7. Saltcellar Cellini
Saliera – table Golden statuette, which in 1543 was made by the master goldsmith Benvenuto Cellini for the French king Francis I. This artifact is considered the pinnacle of decorative art in the age of mannerism. Besides, this is the only work of this great master attribution, which is not in any doubt.
It is known that in 1570, king Charles IX gave “Salieri” Ferdinand of Tyrol, who was present at his betrothal to Elizabeth. Until the 29th century Saliera remained the jewel of Innsbruck castle Ambras, and then it was moved to the capital of Austria Museum of art history.
May 11, 2003 “Salieri” was stolen from the Museum, which at that time was under repair. Despite the fact that the cost of the statues is estimated at more than 50 million euros, the Austrian authorities for the return of this unique site were offered a total of 70 thousand euros, explaining that a work of art of this level to sell is simply impossible. January 21, 2006, police found the “Salieri” buried in a lead box in a forest near the town of Zwettl.
8. Empire State Building
102-story skyscraper in Manhattan, new York one day, too, was stolen. However, the theft it was not real, but only a provocation. 90 minutes two journalists from the Daily News managed to forge the documents in the possession of the building. They showed officials the documents signed by the notary, the legendary Bank robber, Willie Sutton. Trick but nobody noticed. All day journalists were in possession of one of the most famous skyscrapers, but later admitted that the documents were fake, and they went up to it to demonstrate that in the prevailing confusion it is possible to steal the Empire State Building.
9. Jewelry
In 1994 in France has been the biggest theft of jewelry. Three armed men robbed a jewelry store in the Carlton Hotel. They stole jewels worth 30 million pounds, who is rumored to have belonged to one of the most famous French jewelers, Alexander Reza. It was later revealed that the guns were loaded with blank bullets.
10. “Mona Lisa”
But one of the most audacious thefts in history was the kidnapping of the Louvre’s world-famous “Mona Lisa” painted by the great master Leonardo da Vinci.
In 1911 Vincenzo Perugia worked at the Louvre glazier. Once he noticed that the picture no guards, and could not resist the temptation to steal it. He just took a picture off the wall, was removed from the frame, hid “the Mona Lisa under his coat and went home.
Two years the picture was stored in his apartment in a suitcase with a double bottom. Detained the thief when he tried to sell the painting to Italy.
