29/03/2001

Recent data released by the Carabinieri's Cultural Heritage Protection Unit has highlighted a growing market in the theft of religious sculpture, both in Italy and Europe. Recent recoveries include a sculpture representing Saint Domenico dating from the XVII century, stolen in 1994 from Sant'Antonio Abate, near Pompei, in the province of Naples, as well as a wooden statue from the Notre Dame Du Lac church in Le Thor, France, estimated at $ 139,381 (€ 154,937). Another Italian find was at Greve in the Chianti region, Tuscany, where two gold painted wooden statues from the XVIII century, representing Souls in purgatory, and valued at $ 116,151, was stolen 4 years ago from the church of the Orta San Giulio, in the Piedmont region. (Dorian Cara)