Gunmen net top artworks

12 November 2012 - 02:48 By Graeme Hosken
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The most expensive South African artwork ever sold, Irma Stern's painting Arab Prince
The most expensive South African artwork ever sold, Irma Stern's painting Arab Prince

Works of art worth nearly R10 million have been stolen during a daring robbery at Pretoria Art Museum.

The robbery saw three gunmen making off with paintings by JH Pierneef, Irma Stern, Maggie Laubser, Hugo Naude and Gerard Sekoto yesterday.

The men are believed to have pretended to view the art when they struck. Lieutenant-Colonel Katlego Mogale said the suspects paid their R10 entrance fee. "As they entered they held up the person who they had just paid and demanded several paintings before they escaped."

The stolen paintings include: Stern's oil on canvas Fishing boats (1931);

Laubser's oil on canvas, Cat and Petunias (1936);

Naudé, oil on canvas Hottentot Chief;

Pierneef, Eland and bird (1961);

Gouache drawing on paper;

Gerard Sekoto, Street scene.

A source at the museum said the suspects had a list of specific paintings and sketches which they wanted.

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