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Theft

Metropolitan Museum of Art Embroiled in Dispute Over Historical Guitar

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York is at the center of a contentious debate over the ownership and provenance of a 1959 Gibson Les Paul guitar once owned by Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones. The museum claimed the guitar was part of its new collection of over 500 instruments donated by influential musicians, but representatives for former Stones guitarist Mick Taylor disputed this, stating that Taylor had owned and played the guitar since its acquisition in 1971. The Met, however, contests that Taylor only played the guitar but never owned it, citing its research which lists Adrian Miller as the owner in 1971. The guitar's history is further complicated by allegations of theft during a 1971 robbery at the Villa Nellcôte in France, where the band was staying while working on Exile on Main St.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Metropolitan Museum of Art has acquired a 1959 Gibson Les Paul guitar once owned by Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones, as part of its new collection of over 500 instruments.
  • Representatives for former Stones guitarist Mick Taylor dispute the museum's claim, stating that Taylor had owned and played the guitar since 1971.
  • The Met contests that Taylor only played the guitar but never owned it, citing its research which lists Adrian Miller as the owner in 1971.
  • The guitar's history is further complicated by allegations of theft during a 1971 robbery at the Villa Nellcôte in France.
  • The Met plans to open a permanent gallery in 2027 about American guitars, which will include some instruments among the 500 donated.
  • The 1959 Les Paul was lent to the Met by investor and billionaire Dirk Ziff in 2019, and featured in the Met exhibition, Play It Loud.
  • Representatives for Taylor have requested the guitar be made available for inspection and verification of its provenance through the New York Times.
  • The Met has denied hearing from anyone associated with Taylor, despite the email sent by Taylor's manager, Marlies Damming.

Statistics:

  • 1959: The year the Gibson Les Paul guitar was made.
  • 1964: The year Keith Richards wielded the instrument on The Ed Sullivan Show.
  • 1971: The year the guitar was sold to Adrian Miller, according to the Met's research.
  • 2004: The year the Les Paul was put up for auction at Christie's but failed to sell.
  • 2016: The year the guitar was bought by investor and billionaire Dirk Ziff, aided by music producer and guitar collector Perry Margouleff.
  • 2019: The year the guitar was lent to the Met by Ziff, and featured in the exhibition Play It Loud.
  • 2027: The year the Met plans to open a permanent gallery about American guitars.
  • 500: The number of instruments donated to the Met by influential musicians.

Sources:

  • Page Six
  • New York Times
  • The Independent
  • Mail on Sunday

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