For a moment it seems that it is back, but nothing could be further from the truth. It is a replica of the golden helmet of Cotofenesti that is in a window of Flow Inspiration Room on the Koopmansplein in Assen.
The original art treasure was stolen three weeks ago from the Drents Museum in Assen. The helmet and three gold bracelets were the top pieces of the exhibition Dacia – Rich of gold and silverwho were on loan from the National Historical Museum in Bucharest.
For artist Martine Hoving from Assen, the news of the stolen helmet hit like a bomb. “After a few days I thought:” If that mask does not return, we must have something temporary. “I just got a batch of clay over the mail and then decided to make one.”
Hoving hoped that people would wonder. She sees that people stop, look and wonder if it is a replica or not. “That was the action and the playful thing about it. That everyone is just completely happy that the helmet is back.”
But the artist knows that there are many differences between the real helmet and the replica. “If you see the original, the eyes are much better worked out. The replica is of course not entirely. There are many more details in the real one.”
For Hoving it was an excellent opportunity to also ask for her store on Koopmansplein. “To go to our shops to Assenaren. Art is not only in a museum, that can be found everywhere. Also in the city, also on Koopmansplein.”
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