Stolen flagon turns up at auction 30 years after theft
Published September 21st, 2005
A pewter flagon stolen from the Frederick County Historical Society 30 years ago was recovered Monday morning from a Pennsylvania auction house.
No word yet on criminal charges, but Mark Hudson, director of the society, said police are conducting an active investigation.
Lt. Thomas Chase of the Frederick Police Department traveled to Pennsylvania this morning to retrieve the artifact and was unavailable for comment.
The flagon, a pouring vessel similar to a pitcher, dates back to 1762 and was part of a two-piece communion set used at the Old Log Church in Creagerstown until 1834. The Creagerstown Reformed Church donated it to the Historical Society in 1942. The flagon was stolen in 1875. Hudson said he has no idea how much the item is worth.
Dr. Donald Herr, noted expert and pewter collector, alerted the society on Aug. 12 that the flagon had resurfaced when it came up for sale at auctioneers Pook & Pook of Downingtown, Pa., west of Philadelphia. Herr of Lancaster, Pennsylvania had researched the Creagerstown piece prior to its theft.
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