The impact destroyed one 18th-century Chinese vase and chipped another in the Post Memorial Art Reference Library, an independently endowed private collection housed at JPL. Also damaged were a 15th-century Italian statue of the Madonna and a 16th-century English court cupboard, the Joplin Globe reported January 28.
“These items are exceptional treasures rarely found in museums outside of museums in large cities,” Post Library Director Leslie Simpson said. “Therefore, Joplin is fortunate to have them here. We will do all that we can to restore the damaged pieces or to find comparable replacements.” She added that the late Winfred and Elizabeth Post bought many of the art treasures during their travels through the United States and Europe.
JPL Director Carolyn Trout said the library might have to replace as much as 50 feet of the wall. The incident was the third time a vehicle has crashed into the library’s current location: A vehicle smashed into the west wall in 1982, and a man crashed his car through the front door in 2001.
Posted January 28, 2005.