,pirit of JEFFERSON and FARNIER'SADVOCATE News Wednesday, October 3, 2012
CHRISTINE MILLER FORD
Spirit Staff
HARPERS FERRY - Plans to
auction off a landscape by French
impressionist ' Pierre-Auguste
Renoir- a $100,000 piece pur-
ehased in a box for $7 at a flea
market here - were scrapped af-
ter auction house officials learned
the painting may have been sto-
len from a museum in 1951.
Officials from the Alexandria-
Va.-based Potomack Co. post-
poned the auction set for Sept.
29 after learning about a startling
~liscovery by Washington Post
reporter Ian Shapira. In looking
through microfilm of the Balti-
more Museum of Art's library,
iae uncovered documents show-
ing Renoir's "Paysage Bords de
Seine" had been in the museum's
~ollection starting in 1937.
Officials from the auction house
;ay they checked on ownership is-
sues months ago - as soon as the
painting was known to be a work
af the French master.
On July 27, the same day the
Potomack Co.'s expert con-
firmed the painting was a Renoir,
~fficials contacted the Art Loss
~egister - a service that records
md follows missing and stolen
vorks of art -- and made sure that
he painting had never been re-
portedstolen or missing, accord-
ng to the auction house.
"Potomack also consulted the
~BI's art theft website to confirm
hat it was not listed as stolen by
he FBI," according to a news re-
~ase sent by the company three
lays before the planned auction.
But it wasn't until the report-
raised questions that the Bal-
timore Museum of Art reviewed
its records and said that yes, the
painting had in fact been swiped•
When officials from the mu-
seum called with the news, Poto-
mack Co. owner Elizabeth Wain-
stein immediately notified the
FBI, which has begun an inves-
tigation.
"At this time, many ques-
tions remain about the fate of the
painting after it was loaned~to the
museum in 1937 and the own-
ership of the painting then and
now," a news release from Poto-
mack states• "Given these ques-
tions, Potomack and the con-
signor have decided to withdraw
the painting from the [Saturday]
sale until any questions about its
ownership are resolved."
In the release, Wainstein adds:
"Potomack is relieved this came
to light in a timely manner as we
do not want to sell any item with-
out clear title. Our objective in
conducting a sale is always to en-
sure fairness and finality both for
the consignor and for the buying
public. Postpoaing the sale of the
Renoir painting is the best way
of achieving that objective in this
case."
The auction house was to sell
the painting for a Virginia woman
whose identity hasn't been made
public. She has said she bought
the painting in 2010 at the Harp-
ers Ferry Flea Market. The box
also contained a plastic cow and
a Paul Bunyan figure.
The find generated• interna-
tional headlines and Potomack
officials had predicted the paint-
ing would sell for as much as
$100,000.
The painting was known to
A Washington Post rep0rter's research
at a flea market in Harpers Ferry two
from the Baltimore Museum of Art.
Renoir's "Paysage Bords de Seine" had been set for
but reports that it was stolen from a museum in 1951
have been sold by a Paris muse-
um to Herbert May, whose Bal-
timore-born wife, Saidie, was an
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Major Credit Cards Accepted
indicates the Renoir landscape found
years ago was pilfered decades ago
THE POTOMACK CO.
auction last weekend,
postponed the sale.
artist, art lover and eventually a
major benefactor to the Charm
City museum.
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Charles Town, WV
ROBERT SNYDER
Bargain hunters made their way to the Charles Town Li-
brary last weekend for the annual used book sale, a major
fundraiser for the privately funded library at 200 W. Wash-
ington St. Thousands of used titles were up for grabs dur-
ing the two-day even, including audio books, children's
literature, paperbacks, hardbacks and more.
PATH ~ve law hearing, similar to a Irial.
The hearing process is likely to
FROM PAGE A1 raise further issues, Newman add-
eral Energy Regulatory Commis- ed, because PATH recently filed
sion, or FERC, ruled that both to formally abandon the proposed
Newman and Haverty were in- power line. Fomaally abandoning
terested parties with a legitimate the process will allow PATH to try
fight to challenge PATH's pro- to recoup the $121 million in costs
posed rates, they incurred while attempting to
"The hurdle we had to jump pursue the project.
was to raise serious doubts about Combined with the $95 million
their accounting," Newman said. PATH has collected for the project
"We did raise serious doubts, and since 2008, Newman says, "we're
that is what is affirmed in the or- talking about a quarter of a billion
der.Ihopetheyw'dlfmaUytreatus dollars for a project that never got
as an equal." off the ground."
Since Newman and Haverty Patience Wait of StopPATH said
have been formally recognized as Newman and Haverty's actions will
interested parties, PATH will now pay a double dividend to ratepay-
be under increased legal obliKa- ers, lowering their rates while mak-
fion to comply with their requests ing it clear that they have a legiti-
for documents detailing account- mate fight to be heard when FERC
ing practices, expenditures and examines rates.
other intemal documents. New- "Individuals, citizens like you
man said, after being initially ac- and me, can participate at a national
commodating, PATH had attempt- agency when we have questions or
ed to deny their requests as the re- want information on what a regulat-
view process dragged on. "Now ed power company wants to charge
they have to cooperate and give us ratepayers for" Wait said. "Citizens
the information we want," New- all over the country can look at this
man said. and say see we have a right to get
Newman and Haverty, among involved."
other intervenors, will now be part "These women gave us a chance
of a FERC process called "settle- ofgeuing some ofthe money (spent
ment" similar to mediation, that pursuing PATH) back," Wait said.
will attempt to resolve all the is- "Now they will be able to go back
sues they have raised. If the settle- and look at other expenses. I think
ment discussions are unsuccessful, that there is a big argument to be
Newman andHaverty will face off had over whether any of that mon-
with PATH at a formal administra- ey was prudently spent."
Appraise
FROM PAGE A1
Over the years, the fair has de-
livered good news to antique own-
ers, including the 2011 event when
a local couple learned their Vacher-
on Constanlin pocket watch had a
value of more than $100,000.
Rissler sa~d the fair also serves
as a key fundraiser for the muse-
urn, with $600 or more raised in a ditional item co.sti g $3):
typical year.
To know more: CaLl curator
For those who have questions Jane Rissler at the Jefferson
or who need more information,
Rissler may be reached at muse- ICounty Museum at ~04-725- I
um at 304-725-8628 or by email at 8628 or email her at iris' " sler@
jrissler @ frontier.com, frontier.com.
5poR501"5
the...
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please visit the Animal Welfare Soci-
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Oust west of the county fairgrounds).
Our public hours are 11 ~ to 4 pm
Wednesday through Saturday. Visit
our web site www~awsjc.org, Face-
book, or call us at 304-725-0589.
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