Ten gems which went missing from the British Museum and recovered are being displayed for the first time in a new exhibition.
In August, the museum announced that around 2,000 artefacts were missing, stolen or damaged, and a member of staff had been sacked.
Since then, it has recovered 357 stolen artefacts from six different collectors.
Tom Harrison, keeper at the British Museum’s Department of Greece and Rome, said the recovery has been “very slow business” and “much more complicated than we possibly could have imagined”.
However, he said the help from dealers, who bought the items from various places, has been “supportive” in providing information to locate them.
Since the theft, the museum has recovered 357 stolen artefacts from six different collectors. CREDIT: ASSOCIATED PRESS
George Osborne, Chair of the Board of Trustees, says the gems should be put on show “rather than hiding them away”.
He said the display is “another example of culture change underway at the British Museum, as we open up and take ownership of our own story”.
The exhibition reveals a new display that will explore the significance of classical gems and the impression they have left throughout history.
The British Museum said gems provide a “window into the ancient
Mediterranean world”. They were symbols of beauty, used as seals and worn as jewellery.
Mr Harrison said the exhibition would “cast some light on an
underappreciated and very beautiful art form” which was hugely popular during the 18th century in Europe.
One particular focus has been a gem depicting the head of Roman Emperor Augustus, which functioned as a propaganda tool.
A gem depicting the head of Roman Emperor Augustus. CREDIT: BRITISH MUSEUM
However, the artefact heist last year is not the first time gems have been embroiled in scandal.
Prince Stanislaw Poniatowski’s gem collection was sold at an auction in the 19th century and was discovered to be made up of forgeries, according to Claudia Wagner, a senior research associate in gems at the British Museum.
Rediscovering Gems will run until 15 June.
Submitted Article
HeadlineStolen gems recovered and revealed for the first time
Short HeadlineRecovered gems revealed in new display
StandfirstGems stolen last year have been recovered and are on display in a new British Museum exhibition.
Published Article
HeadlineBritish Museum recovered gems to go on display for first time
Short HeadlineBritish Museum recovered gems to go on display for first time
StandfirstThe gems were among the 2,000 items the museum last year said had been stolen.
Ten Stolen gems have been recovered by the British Museum and are being displayed for the first-time in a new exhibition.
In August last year, the British Museum announced that 2,000 artefacts had been stolen and scattered all across the world.
Since then, the Museum has recovered 357 stolen artefacts from six different collectors.
Tom Harrison, keeper of the British Museum’s department of Greece and Rome, said that the recovery has been “very slow business” and “much more complicated than we possibly could have imagined”.
However, he said the help from dealers – who bought the items from various places – has been “supportive” in providing information to locate them.
The British Museum in London. CREDIT: ASSOCIATED PRESS
George Osborne, Chair of the Board of Trustees, says that the gems should be put on show “rather than hiding them away”.
He says the display is “another example of culture change underway at the British Museum, as we open up and take ownership of our own story”.
The exhibition reveals a new display that will explore the significance of classical gems and the impression they have left throughout history.
The British Museum say that gems provide a “window into the ancient
Mediterranean world”. They were symbols of beauty, used as seals and worn as jewellery.
Tom Harrison says that the exhibition will “cast some light on an
underappreciated and very beautiful art form” which was hugely popular during the 18th century in Europe.
One particular focus has been a gem depicting the head of August, which functioned as a tool of propaganda.
A gem depicting the head of Roman Emperor Augustus. CREDIT: BRITISH MUSEUM
However, the artefact heist last year is not the first time gems have been embroiled in scandal.
Prince Stanislaw Poniatowski’s gem collection was sold at an auction in the 19th century and were discovered to be forgeries, according to Claudia Wagner, a senior research associate in gems at the British Museum
Rediscovering Gems will run until June 15 in room three at the British Museum.
Ten gems which went missing from the British Museum and recovered are being displayed for the first time in a new exhibition.
In August, the museum announced that around 2,000 artefacts were missing, stolen or damaged, and a member of staff had been sacked.
Since then, it has recovered 357 stolen artefacts from six different collectors.
Tom Harrison, keeper at the British Museum’s Department of Greece and Rome, said the recovery has been “very slow business” and “much more complicated than we possibly could have imagined”.
However, he said the help from dealers, who bought the items from various places, has been “supportive” in providing information to locate them.
Since the theft, the museum has recovered 357 stolen artefacts from six different collectors. CREDIT: ASSOCIATED PRESS
George Osborne, Chair of the Board of Trustees, says the gems should be put on show “rather than hiding them away”.
He said the display is “another example of culture change underway at the British Museum, as we open up and take ownership of our own story”.
The exhibition reveals a new display that will explore the significance of classical gems and the impression they have left throughout history.
The British Museum said gems provide a “window into the ancient
Mediterranean world”. They were symbols of beauty, used as seals and worn as jewellery.
Mr Harrison said the exhibition would “cast some light on an
underappreciated and very beautiful art form” which was hugely popular during the 18th century in Europe.
One particular focus has been a gem depicting the head of Roman Emperor Augustus, which functioned as a propaganda tool.
A gem depicting the head of Roman Emperor Augustus. CREDIT: BRITISH MUSEUM
However, the artefact heist last year is not the first time gems have been embroiled in scandal.
Prince Stanislaw Poniatowski’s gem collection was sold at an auction in the 19th century and was discovered to be made up of forgeries, according to Claudia Wagner, a senior research associate in gems at the British Museum.
