Summary
Overview
Jordan Harbinger interviews Arthur Brand, known as the 'Indiana Jones of the art world,' who has recovered over 200 stolen artworks. They explore the massive $8 billion illegal art trade involving Nazis, mafias, terrorists, and various criminals. Arthur shares fascinating stories of recovering stolen masterpieces, dealing with dangerous groups, negotiating returns of priceless artifacts, and working with both police and ex-thieves. The conversation covers Nazi-looted art, major museum heists including the recent Louvre robbery, forgeries, and the surprisingly porous security at many museums.
Introduction to Art Crime and Arthur Brand's Work
Arthur Brand introduces himself as one of the few civilian art detectives actively recovering stolen art. He explains that art crime is a massive $8 billion euro industry, making it the third largest criminal money flow in the world according to the CIA. The illegal art market involves organized crime, terrorist groups, and even state actors, with stolen Nazi art, forgeries, and illicit antiquities making up a significant portion of the trade. Brand challenges the romantic notion of art theft portrayed in movies, revealing that most thieves can't actually sell what they steal.
- Arthur Brand is one of the only civilians actively searching for and recovering stolen art, unlike insurance company investigators or provenance researchers
- Art crime is worth approximately 8 billion euros, making it the third largest criminal money flow in the world according to the CIA
- The art world involves Italian mafia, IRA, Taliban, ISIS, and states like Iran in looting and trafficking
- Brand estimates around 30% of all artworks in the world are fake, with some museums having up to 50% forgeries
" The bottom line in the art world is money. They want you and me to believe it's about beauty, but it's not. It's only about greed. "
" I don't even have a driver's license. "
The Diwan of Hafez: Iranian Secret Service Threat
Arthur recounts recovering a stolen Persian relic called the Diwan of Hafez, a 15th-century book of poems by one of Iran's most famous poets. While filming the recovery for his Dutch television series, he received a warning from Dutch police that the Iranian Secret Service had sent a team to the Netherlands to retrieve the book, possibly by force. The German police advised him not to travel to Germany for the handover due to safety concerns. This incident highlighted the dangerous international politics surrounding cultural artifacts and the lengths some governments will go to recover national treasures.
- The Diwan of Hafez was stolen in 2007 from an Iranian-German owner and was one of the first prints of the famous Persian poet's work
- Dutch police warned Arthur that Iranian Secret Service was sending a team to recover the book after learning of its location
- German police cancelled the planned handover in Germany, stating they couldn't protect Arthur from Iranian operatives
- Arthur ultimately returned the book quickly to avoid confrontation with Iranian agents
" The Germans said, don't come here because we can't protect you from the Iranian Secret Service, who's going to operate in Germany and try and kill you and take this book. "
" There are hitmen active in the Netherlands and in Spain, sent by the Iranian government, killing political opponents, refugees in Europe. "
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