# Has art ever been stolen and not found? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 27, 2002, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-art-ever-been-stolen-and-not-found/129837 "2002-09-27T05:14:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2002, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-art-ever-been-stolen-and-not-found/129837/21 "2002-09-28T00:54:42Z")
Right…but wills have to be witnessed! ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2002, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-art-ever-been-stolen-and-not-found/129837/22 "2002-09-28T01:45:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by I am Sparticus \* > \*\*The Amber Room was stolen from the Soviets by the Germans in WWII and never found. An entire room of carved Amber paneling. \*\* Yep, the Amber Room, a gift to the Russian Tsar by the Prussian Emperor (I believe it was given to Peter the Great), it was part of the Catherine Palace. Actually, pieces recently WERE found. And they’re trying to make a replica of it. What about that recent theft we discussed-where the guy’s mother DESTROYED the pieces he stole, so he wouldn’t go to jail? ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2002, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-art-ever-been-stolen-and-not-found/129837/23 "2002-09-28T03:54:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Rilchiam \* > \*\*Right…but wills have to be witnessed! \*\* You could say “I hereby leave the contents of that safe hidden behind my Mona Lisa replica to the Louvre museum.” ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2002, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-art-ever-been-stolen-and-not-found/129837/24 "2002-09-28T04:31:10Z")
Think of all the amazing art looted out of Egyptian tombs. Most of it never found, or at least not recognized for what it was. Think of the amount of treasure found in Tutankhamen’s tomb, and multiply it by all the other kings and other assorted royalty and high officials that could afford that kind of a sendoff. ---
**Author:** ![Tars\_Tarkas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tars\_Tarkas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tars_Tarkas)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2002, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-art-ever-been-stolen-and-not-found/129837/25 "2002-09-29T03:38:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Rilchiam \* > \*\*Right…but wills have to be witnessed! \*\* I’m sure one of my relatives will be trustworthy enough to be in the room when i make the will, (otherwise they won’t be IN the will!!!) ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2002, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-art-ever-been-stolen-and-not-found/129837/26 "2002-09-29T05:42:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Rilchiam \* > \*\*Right…but wills have to be witnessed! \*\* IANAL, but I believe only the _signature_ needs to be witnessed. There’s no reason for the witnesses to be aware of the contents of the will, although IIRC it is usually recommended that none of the witnesses be beneficiaries of the estate for legal reasons. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-art-ever-been-stolen-and-not-found/129837.md?page=1)