In the early hours of Thursday, January 30, Stockholm's Couleur Gallery on the exclusive Linnégatan street was targeted by an art heist. The thieves disappeared with 10-12 sculptures by Spanish artist Salvador Dalí. According to the evening newspaper Aftonbladet, the sculptures are valued from $20,000-50,000 each.
The alarm from the security company reached the police around 4 am on Thursday morning. When the police arrived at the scene, the perpetrators were gone. According to Aftonbladet, the thieves were seen leaving the scene in a dark colored Audi. Police report that the perpetrators entered the premises by smashing the entrance window.
Related: Part of a Dali Sculpture is Stolen in Vancouver
Couleur Gallery's owner Peder Enström commented on the burglary in an interview with SVT, "What we can see already is that 10 to 12 sculptures have been stolen, but it is difficult to give an exact number before we can go through the gallery with police".
"It is sad, I am devastated, devastated," said Enström. "I have fought for so long for that exhibition."
Barnebys founder Pontus Silfverstolpe believes that the works of Salvador Dalí, if they are not found immediately, will probably leave the country. "Sculptures are usually marked with a signature and a number, which often makes it possible to track if they reach an open market," he said. "When it comes to Dali, his sculptures are traded on an international market, which is why there is a likelihood that the sculptures will leave the country for sale in a more hidden market far away."
Related: The Top 10 Stolen Paintings
He believes that the theft could also be an inside job because it is difficult to sell works by a recognized artist in the open market. "Most thefts and robberies in this industry involve jewelry, silver and watches," said Silfverstolpe. "Items that are easy to convert or melt down and resell. Art theft is often an order assignment or an attempt to reach a financial settlement with insurance companies."
If the sculpture shows up in the open market, Silfverstolpe advises the police to keep an eye on Barnebys. "Hopefully the police use Barnebys where they can track the sculptures if they show up at international auction houses or with art dealers."
Related: The Delirium of Dali
This is not the first time works by Dalí have been stolen. As late as October 2019, the etching "The Giraffe on Fire" disappeared from a gallery in San Francisco, which was valued at approximately $20,000. And in July 2019, a golden egg that was a part of a publicly exhibited Dalí sculpture in Vancouver disappeared.
Couleur Gallery is currently closed for technical investigation and a preliminary investigation into the burglary has started.
