Art Crime: Terrorists, Tomb Raiders, Forgers and Thieves [Hardcover]

Since the Second World War, art crime has shifted from a relatively innocuous, often ideological crime, into a major international problem, considered by some to be the third-highest grossing criminal trade worldwide. This rich volume features essays on art crime by the most respected and knowledgeable experts in this interdisciplinary subject.

'This remarkable anthology appears just when it is most needed, showing, from a broad variety of perspectives, that criminal acts against works of art and architecture looting, vandalism, iconoclasm, illicit trade exert profound effects on individual human beings and on civil society. A riveting rogues' gallery: passive-aggressive art forgers, brutal religious iconoclasts, Napoleon, and the swindlers who bottle sugar water as wine in China, matches wits against a colorful gathering of heroes, from police officers to art historians to the former Mayor of Rome. A fascinating, appalling, and timely discussion.' - Ingrid D. Rowland, Professor, School of Architecture, University of Notre Dame, USA

'This riveting book provides the inside-story on a range of art crimes, from the relationship between looted antiquities and terrorism to the most recent developments concerning Nazi looted art to wine fraud in China, among other toxic objects. The contributors hail from diverse backgrounds, but are united in their painstaking research and their search for reform-minded responses to the myriad challenges concerning cultural heritage. This book is essential for scholars, collectors, and anyone who cares about cultural property.' - Jonathan Petropoulos, John V. Croul Professor of European History, Claremont McKenna College, USA

George H.O. Abungu, Okello Abungu Heritage Consultants, Kenya.? Stefano Alessandrini, Specialist Consultant to the Ministero per i Beni Culturali and the Advocate General Maurizio Fiorilli, Italy.? Colonel Matthew Bogdanos, New York County District Attorney's Office, UlC6