Art Museum Offers $5,000 Reward for Recovery of Missing Sculpture

The is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the recovery of five manquettes stolen from the museum's Feltcher Benton exhibition, which closed Feb. 6.

Part of the exhibit's recreation of Benton's studio, the manquettes are small models between 12 - 15 inches tall of full sized sculptures - typically created during a design phase. The sculptures are valued at $8,000 each.

According to reports made to the Sonoma Police Department, the museum is installing a surveillance system, following the theft. Currently, the museum is protected by an alarm, with a single code which is given to several employees.

"In light of this theft - the first ever for this institution -- the museum has taken several steps to upgrade and expand the surveillance and security systems and has tightened security significantly," said Museum Executive Director Kate Eilersten.

The museum reported the thefts on Friday, March 11. They believe the manquettes were taken over the course of the Benton exhibit, which ran from Nov. 20, 2010 through Feb. 6, 2011.

Any person with information regarding the theft is requested to contact the .