In 1990 the $5M Denney Modern Art Collection on loan to the Dallas Museum of Art was removed by means of forged letters purporting to have been written by the owner -actually dead. This classic case is reported at: -

http://museum-security.org/denney.index.htm

The case raises a number of issues concerning the security of loan collections - or does it? Was is just an isolated case, or have there been other similar cases elsewhere?

What precautions do museums generally take to ensure that loaned items are as well protected as a museum's own property?
Are members of the list aware of events where loan collections have been removed, or nearly been removed, from museums by unauthorised third parties or where loan collections have mysteriously disappeared?
On discovery of fraud, what was then done to recover the loan, and with what success?

I am trying to build up a general picture of where problems have arisen with long term art loans. Any information  about problems with loans to museums, or comments on the Denney case itself, would be gratefully appreciated.

Antony Anderson
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http://museum-security.org/denney/index.htm