[MSN] Man arrested in theft of Old Salem pottery

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Thursday, May 3, 2007
Man arrested in theft of Old Salem pottery
He's charged with possessing stolen ceramics


By Dan Galindo
JOURNAL REPORTER

Winston-Salem police have arrested one man in connection with the theft of
20 pieces of Moravian pottery from Old Salem.

The ceramic pottery taken includes a few replicas, which have little value,
along with original plates, bowls and jugs from the 19th and late-18th
centuries.

Police have recovered at least 14 of the pieces after arresting David Curtis
Barrow, 56, of 413 Holiday St. on Monday at Brookstown Antiques &
Consignment on Brookstown Road.

According to Lee French, the president of Old Salem Inc., the same man had
sold stolen pottery pieces at the store, then returned Monday to sell more.

Old Salem officials had notified local antique dealers after the thefts and
asked them to be on the lookout.

French said they confirmed that the first pieces sold to the store were
stolen, and then police were ready in case the seller returned.

Barrow is charged with possession of stolen property and carrying a
concealed gun, which police say was a loaded gun found in his car. He has
not been charged with the break-ins or thefts and is out of jail after
posting a $15,000 bond.

He did not return a phone message yesterday.

The pottery pieces were taken in break-ins on the night of April 11 at
Winkler Bakery and on April 15 at the Vierling House.

Old Salem officials declined to say how much the pieces are worth. One
police report lists six stolen pieces as valued at $2,400.

Police declined to comment on the case yesterday other than to say they were
still investigating.

The stolen pieces are not the elaborately decorated plates often associated
with Moravians - they are more like the sturdy wares that would be used
around the house, said Johanna Brown, the director of collections at Old
Salem and curator of Moravian decorative arts.

"It's sort of the Rubbermaid of the 19th century," Brown said.

│ Dan Galindo can be reached at 727-7377 or at dgalindo at wsjournal.com.

http://www.journalnow.com/