$160M stolen masterpiece found hanging in antique shop

WEBVTT DISCOVERY THAT'S ROCKED THE AWORLD.DAVID: YOU WOULD EXPECT RARE ANDVALUABLE ART LIKE THAT TO BEFOUND IN A PLACE LIKE THIS, THEALBUQUERQUE MUSEUM OF ART ANDHISTORY.BUT IT WAS A SILVER CITY THRIFTSHOP, WHERE ONE MAN FOUND A RAREPIECE OF ART MISSING FOR THIRTYEARS AND VALUED AT $160MILLION.WILLEM DE KOONING'S PAINTINGCALLED WOMAN-OCHRE WAS STOLENFROM AN ART MUSEUM IN ARIZONATHIRTY-ONE YEARS AGO.SINCE THEN, IT'S BEEN LOST. UNTIL RECENTLY, WHEN A SILVERCITY ANTIQUES DEALER BOUGHT ITIN AN ESTATE SALE.HE THOUGHT THE PAINTING LOOKEDCOOL AND PUT IT UP IN HIS SHOP.THEN A CUSTOMER NOTICED IT.VAN AUCKER DID SOME RESEARONLINE AND REALIZED THE FORTUNETHAT WAS HANGING ON HIS WALL.BUT HE SAID HE DOESN'T WANT ACENT.

Updated: 8:54 AM CDT Aug 15, 2017

Editorial Standards ⓘ

$160M stolen masterpiece found hanging in antique shop

Updated: 8:54 AM CDT Aug 15, 2017

Editorial Standards ⓘ

A New Mexico man has found a stolen painting that was missing for more than three decades, and is valued at $160 million.The Willem De Koonig’s “Woman-Ochre” was stolen from the University of Arizona Museum of Art in 1985 by two thieves, who cut the painting out of it’s frame.It has been missing ever since.Recently, antique shop owner David Van Auker purchased the painting as part of an estate sale.He said he thought the painting “looked cool” and hung it in his Silver City shop.A customer came in and asked if it was “a real de Kooning.”Van Auker did some research online, and called the University of Arizona once he believed this was the real painting.Van Aucker says he doesn’t want any of the $160 million.The two thieves were never caught.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. —

A New Mexico man has found a stolen painting that was missing for more than three decades, and is valued at $160 million.

The Willem De Koonig’s “Woman-Ochre” was stolen from the University of Arizona Museum of Art in 1985 by two thieves, who cut the painting out of it’s frame.

It has been missing ever since.

Recently, antique shop owner David Van Auker purchased the painting as part of an estate sale.

He said he thought the painting “looked cool” and hung it in his Silver City shop.

A customer came in and asked if it was “a real de Kooning.”

Van Auker did some research online, and called the University of Arizona once he believed this was the real painting.

Van Aucker says he doesn’t want any of the $160 million.

The two thieves were never caught.

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$160M stolen masterpiece found hanging in antique shop

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