At the end of a series of statues in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Marjorie Talchif, a famous Indian ballerina, has been standing in bronze, en pointe in a bundle, since 2007.
But on Friday, her statue at the Tulsa Historical Society and Museum was cut from its base, hacked and sold for money, said Michelle Place, the museum’s executive director.
“It’s just a gut blow,” Ms. Place said.
On Monday, Ms. Place said, local recycling center officials found pieces of Ms. Talchif’s statue, including parts of her torso, bundles and legs. They called the police.
The Tulsa Police Department said in a statement that it was investigating the theft, but did not respond immediately to emails or phone calls Monday.
Parts of the bronze statue sold for $ 266 at a recycling center. Credit … Tulsa Historical Society and Museum
Ms. Place said that when five sculptures, including Ms. Talchif’s, were installed in 2007, they were valued at a total of $ 120,000. Someone sold parts of the statue of Mrs. Talchif to a recycling center for $ 266, which they paid for the bronze pieces in pounds.
But museum officials believe two people may have stolen the statue and taken the parts to two different recycling centers, Ms Place said. The head and arms of the sculpture have not been found.
“I just guess they have no idea what these bronze statues are about,” she said.
Ms. Tallchief was a flexible and agile dancer and international star with major French and American companies.
French critic Irene Lidova described Ms. Talchif in 1950 as a brilliant and dynamic performer. “Through her quasi-acrobatic virtuosity,” writes Ms. Lidova, “she embodies the perfect dancer of our time.”
Ms. Talchif grew up on the Osage Nation Reserve in an Oklahoma oil family and died in November 2021 at the age of 95.
She and her older sister Maria Talchif were part of a group known as the Five Moons, Oklahoma Indian ballerinas who rose to the heights of ballet in the 20th century, when many famous ballerinas were white.
They and the other three – Yvonne Schuto, Rosella Hightower and Moselin Larkin – are monuments in a number of statues in front of the Tulsa Historical Society and Museum.
Ms Place said it was not clear why Ms. Talchif’s statue was highlighted, but it could be because it was at the end of the row and close to a tree that could hide it from view.
Alexander Skibine, one of Ms. Talchif’s two sons, said he did not believe it when he heard that his mother’s statue had been stolen.
“Why would anyone do that?” he said Monday night.
The Tulsa Police Department did not name any suspects as of Monday night, but Ms Place, who spoke to police, said the unit was pursuing “really good leads”.
The museum plans to restore the statue of Mrs. Talchif. Ms. Place said Gary Hanson, who made the sculpture, told her he would bring the statue back to life.
The museum is trying to raise $ 10,000 to cover the deduction for the statue’s insurance and $ 5,000 to install security cameras near the Five Moons, Ms. Place said.
In a statement Monday night, GT Bynum, the mayor of Tulsa, said the statues were a “point of pride” celebrating the city’s Indian heritage.
“It is a disgrace that someone will steal one and destroy it in order to sell it for scrap,” he wrote.
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