The descendants of the Löw-Beer family have announced a reward of one million crowns for the discovery of the lost statue

villa

Brno - Descendants of the Brno industrialist and philanthropist August Löw-Beer have announced a reward of one million crowns for information leading to the recovery of a statue that stood in the hall of the villa at Hlinky Street 132 in Brno until 2011. This was reported in a press release by South Moravian councilor Michal Doležel (TOP 09), who is authorized to act on behalf of the family.

The statue depicts a woman and a small child, created by the artist Antonia Tantardini. It was installed in the hall of August Löw-Beer's villa during his lifetime and remained there until 2011, when the infant institute moved out of the villa.

"The Löw-Beer family wishes for the statue to be found and returned to the villa, where it could once again serve as a symbol and reminder of the fate of one of the iconic Brno families of the 20th century. If this proves impossible, the family is prepared to take responsibility for the statue in another dignified manner. However, their clear and primary wish remains the return of the statue to the house in Brno," stated Doležel.

August Löw-Beer commissioned the construction of the villa at Hlinky Street 132 in 1922, and he lived there with his family until 1938, when he fled from the Nazis. The building was then confiscated by the Gestapo, and after the war, it was nationalized, with the Czechoslovak state establishing an infant institute within it.

"After 1989, the descendants of August Löw-Beer consciously decided not to claim restitution, out of respect for the fact that the building served a public benefit purpose – care for infants," noted Doležel.

The infant institute operated in the building until 2011, when the statue in the hall under the staircase was still reportedly there according to the family. The villa was then sold to a private owner without the family's knowledge, and since then it has been falling into disrepair; according to Doležel, homeless people gather there.

"We had no information about the planned sale of the villa at that time. If we had known about it, we would have taken steps to negotiate its return and responsible management," the family stated in the press release.

The reward of one million crowns is offered for information leading to its safe return in good condition or for its purchase from the current owner of the statue. The family guarantees anonymity for those providing information. Anyone with information about the fate of the statue can contact Michal Doležel directly at [email protected] or by phone at 739 570 706.