Koons Crack Challenges Restorers

When Seattle collectors Virginia and Bagley Wright unpacked their Jeff Koons piece “John the Baptist” for a show at their gallery, they discovered a large crack. “Produced in an edition of three with an artist’s proof, “Saint John” is one of the most prominent pieces from Koons’ celebrated 1988 “Banality” series of large-scale, ceramic sculptures. “Saint John” would be worth millions today were it not for the crack and might be worth millions in spite of it. That’s a serious appreciation, considering that Bagley and Virginia Wright purchased it in 1991 for $150,000.”