Dispute Over Legendary Guitar at the Met

Strategic Insights -

The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York is at the center of a dispute over a 1959 Gibson Les Paul guitar that was donated by billionaire investor and guitar collector Dirk Ziff. The guitar, known as the "starburst" Les Paul, is believed to have been owned by Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones, and later by Mick Taylor, who is now claiming it was stolen during the recording of the album "Exile on Main St." in 1971. The Met disputes this claim, citing provenance records that show the guitar's history of ownership.

Key Takeaways:

  • The 1959 Gibson Les Paul guitar was donated to the Met by Dirk Ziff, a billionaire investor and guitar collector.
  • Mick Taylor, a former member of the Rolling Stones, claims the guitar was stolen during the recording of "Exile on Main St." in 1971.
  • The Met disputes this claim, citing provenance records that show the guitar's history of ownership.
  • The guitar has a long and well-documented history of ownership, including being owned by Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, and Jimmy Page.
  • Taylor says he got the guitar as a present from Keith Richards in 1967, two years before he joined the Stones.
  • The Met says the guitar's performance with the Rolling Stones on "The Ed Sullivan Show" in 1964 "ignited interest in this legendary model."
  • The guitar, nicknamed the "Keithburst," was played by several guitar legends, including Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page.
  • Taylor's business manager says the Met should make the guitar available for inspection to determine its provenance.

Statistics:

  • 500: The number of guitars donated to the Met by Dirk Ziff as part of a "landmark gift of the finest guitars from the golden age of American guitar making."
  • 1959: The year the Gibson Les Paul guitar was made.
  • 1964: The year the Rolling Stones first appeared on "The Ed Sullivan Show," featuring the guitar.
  • 1967: The year Mick Taylor claims he got the guitar as a present from Keith Richards.
  • 1971: The year the guitar was reportedly stolen during the recording of "Exile on Main St."
  • 2004: The year the guitar was put up for auction by Christie's, but failed to sell.
  • 2012-2013: The year Mick Taylor reconnected with the Rolling Stones for their 50th anniversary tour.
  • 2016: The year Dirk Ziff bought the guitar.
  • 2019: The year the Met loaned the guitar from Ziff for an exhibition titled "Play it Loud: Instruments of Rock & Roll."

Sources:

  • Associated Press writer Jocelyn Noveck in New York contributed to this story.
  • The New York Times, "A Legendary Guitar's Provenance Sparks a Dispute" (no date given)
  • The Met's website, "Play it Loud: Instruments of Rock & Roll" (no date given)
  • Dirk Ziff, billionaire investor and guitar collector (no date given)
  • Mick Taylor, former member of the Rolling Stones (no date given)