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A bronze sculpture by British artist Henry Moore on loan to a university has been recalled to its owners early following a spate of thefts of other works of arts, a university spokesman said Monday.
"Reclining Connected Forms", a seven-feet (2.1-metre) long piece had been on show at the entrance to Exeter University, in southwest England, but has now been taken back to the Henry Moore Foundation near London, the spokesman said.
The recall follows a security review of works currently on loan after the theft of a two-tonne Moore bronze, "Reclining Figure 1969-70", from the foundation's base in Hadham, 30 miles (50 kilometres) north of London.
The piece, which was insured for three million pounds (4.34 million euros, 5.2 million dollars), was hauled on to a lorry last December and has not been recovered. It is believed to be worth around 5,000 pounds if melted down.
In January, a set of Lynn Chadwick figures, "The Three Watchers", was snapped off and stolen from Roehampton University, west of London.
There have been about 20 thefts of large bronze sculptures in the London area in the last 12 months, prompting police to believe they are being targeted for their scrap value.
An Exeter University spokesman said its bronze was considered "vulnerable" to theft as it was some distance from buildings, and had been recalled eight months early.
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AFPEntertainment-Britain-art-sculpture-crime
AFP 131210 GMT 03 06
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