ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Published Online: 1 May 2002
Page Count: 5

The Identification of Stolen Paintings Using Comparison of Various Marks
Klein, A
Scientific Officers and Head of Laboratory, respectively, Toolmarks and Materials Laboratory, Israel National Police Headquarters,

Vinokurov, A
Scientific Officers and Head of Laboratory, respectively, Toolmarks and Materials Laboratory, Israel National Police Headquarters,

Lurie, DJ
Curator of 16th to 19th Centuries Art and Chief Conservator of the Tel-Aviv Museum of Art, Tel-Aviv,

Levi, JA
Head of the Photography Laboratory, Israel National Police Headquarters,

Levin, N
Scientific Officers and Head of Laboratory, respectively, Toolmarks and Materials Laboratory, Israel National Police Headquarters,

Novoselsky, Y
Scientific Officers and Head of Laboratory, respectively, Toolmarks and Materials Laboratory, Israel National Police Headquarters,

Shor, Y
Scientific Officers and Head of Laboratory, respectively, Toolmarks and Materials Laboratory, Israel National Police Headquarters,

(Received 11 December 2001; accepted 3 December 2001)

Abstract

Several oil paintings, suspected of being stolen, were found in the possession of an art dealer in Tel-Aviv, Israel. The authors were asked to determine if these paintings were the stolen ones, based on photographs, stretchers, and frames submitted by the alleged owners in France. A physical match was found between two of the questioned paintings and two stretchers. Another painting was identified as being previously affixed to the original frame by several nails. The fourth painting was identified as being the one photographed by the alleged owner. This identification was done by comparing micro-topography marks revealed by the illumination conditions of that photograph and of the questioned painting.

Keywords:
forensic science, physical match, photographs comparison, depression marks, stolen paintings, artwork examination

Paper ID: JFS15305J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS15305J
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