210 gilded Mozart statuettes stolen in Salzburg

Two hundred and ten of the 320 gilded Mozart statuettes that decorated Salzburg were stolen from Mirabell Park, forcing an early closure of the installation by German artist Otmar Herl.

The 50‑centimetre figures had been installed throughout the city to mark the 270th anniversary of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's birth. Organizers discovered that a large share of the small sculptures had disappeared from the gardens outside Mozart’s former residence and from several nearby pavilions and rooms.

Herl said he believes the disappearances were not the work of casual tourists but an organised theft. "The worst thing that can happen to an artist is when his works disappear," he said.

Losses are estimated at about €20,000. Herl had intended to sell the statuettes after the exhibition for €90 apiece, and although the organisers had set aside a few spare figures, they were not enough to cover the missing pieces. A further complication was that the manufacturer of the statuettes was on holiday, so quick replacement was not possible.

Exhibition shortened but partially maintained

The remaining statuettes have been rearranged with wider spacing and the reduced installation will stay open until 30 August. Officials say the show now continues with the smaller number of figures on display.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born on 27 January 1756 in Salzburg. The Mozarteum Foundation in the city runs concerts, maintains museums devoted to Mozart and supports research into his life and work.

Photo: Christina Muhler / Salzburg Guide / Instagram