Uncover the Hidden Secrets: British Museum Seeks Public Assistance in Retrieving Priceless Stolen Treasures

The British Museum is reaching out to the public to help find and retrieve around 2,000 artifacts that it believes have been stolen from its collections. In its latest efforts, the museum has introduced a dedicated hotline where individuals who are "concerned" about possibly possessing or having had the missing items can report them.

The announcement follows the revelation by George Osborne, the chair of the British Museums, about the scale of thefts. These thefts came to light when objects that were claimed to be from the museum's collections started being sold online. In an interview with BBC Radio 4 last month, Osborne mentioned that they were working with numerous trustworthy individuals who would return the stolen items, although there might be others who would not.

The British Museum said it is working with experts, including "leading figures in the study of gems and jewelry," to recover the stolen items.

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The British Museum has since revealed that 60 items have already been returned, with a further 300 identified and due to be handed back imminently.

The museum announced on Tuesday that a large portion of the missing artifacts consists of Greek and Roman gems and jewelry. The statement also mentioned that the museum is currently collaborating with a team of international specialists in order to recover the remaining objects.

The heirs of a Jewish art collector have been reunited with seven intimate Egon Schiele artworks that were looted by the Nazis.

The Art Loss Register has listed the items on an international database dedicated to stolen art, but specific information about the lost and damaged pieces has not been revealed. Instead, the museum's website has shared photographs of comparable artifacts.

James Ratcliffe, the director of recoveries at the Art Loss Register, expressed agreement with the decision to not disclose a complete inventory of the missing items. He stated that the British Museum has taken a cautious approach, considering the importance of sharing information with the public while also avoiding potential exploitation by malicious individuals.

While the museum is "not sharing full details" of the missing items, it has published images of similar objectslike this engraved Roman artifactto its website.

British Museum

The thefts appear to date back to at least 2021, when a Danish art dealer said he spotted items he believed to be from the museums collection for sale online.

The stolen items are currently under investigation by the Metropolitan Police in London. The British Museum, established in 1753, houses numerous valuable artifacts such as the Rosetta Stone and the Parthenon Sculptures. Although the museum initially stated that they had conducted a comprehensive investigation into the missing items, Osborne revealed last month that a subsequent examination determined their response to be inadequate.

The British Museum has appointed a new interim director following the theft crisis. In the wake of the scandal, museum director Hartwig Fischer has resigned and an employee involved in the investigation has been terminated.

"Yes, the museum has acknowledged its errors," stated Osborne, who served as the finance minister of the UK from 2010 to 2016, during an interview with BBC Radio 4. "Indeed, we have sincerely apologized for them. Nevertheless, we are diligently rectifying the situation and aspiring to become a British museum that both the nation and the world can take pride in."

This report includes information from CNN's Niamh Kennedy.