By james art A $12,000 bronze cowboy statue has been returned to its rightful owner nearly four decades after it was stolen from an Arizona art gallery, according to a report.
The two-foot-tall sculpture of a cowboy sitting with a box of chewing tobacco in hand was stolen from the Mammen II Gallery in Scottsdale in 1985, and in the days before security cameras, police never had any cracks in the case, ABC 15 reported.
The statue was bought by the gallery’s then-owners, Bob and Betty Mamen, who are now dead, because one of their customers wanted the artwork, the couple’s daughter told the station.
Before the customer could pick it up, the break-in and theft took place.
“She was devastated,” Nancy Emmons said of her mother.
“There were many works in the gallery that were worth more than that. But they wanted this,” she said of the thief or thieves.
The statue, named “Pinch” after a 1970s tobacco advertising slogan, is one of about 40 created by New Mexico artist Gordon Snidow.
Last year, ABC 15 reporters asked authorities for a list of stolen Copper State artwork for a story.
The statue was one of the lost treasures aired and caught the attention of someone who knew Arlene Cook, who owned the bronze figure after inheriting it from her late son-in-law in 2022, ABC 15 reported.
Cook, of Gilbert, said the statue had been with his brother-in-law for more than 30 years, but he did not believe his loved one was involved in the theft.
“He wouldn’t steal it,” he told the station. “I think he probably got it in a trade because he was dealing in antiques.”
Cook reportedly called authorities and the FBI went to the house to pick him up.
ABC 15 then found Nancy Emmons, who still had the paperwork to prove it was her family’s possession. The artifact now sits in her living room with plans to donate it to a museum.
“I wish it had been restored when my parents were still alive. They would have enjoyed it,” Emmons said. “I’m sure they’re looking down and they’re really happy he’s back.”
She also called Cook to express her gratitude for returning it to her.
“I’m so impressed with it,” Emmons said. “Nowadays it’s so rare to hear of someone doing the right thing like that.”