Revealed: British Museum ‘was warned by art dealer that precious artefacts were being stolen by thief and sold online TWO YEARS ago – but bosses insisted there was “no evidence of wrongdoing”‘
- Dr Ittai Gradel warned the museum about suspected thefts in February 2021
The British Museum was warned that precious artefacts were being stolen and sold online by an art dealer two years ago, but bosses responded and told him that ‘all objects were accounted for’, it was revealed on Tuesday.
Dr Ittai Gradel, an expert in Roman antiquities, contacted the museum after spotting items for sale online that he had seen in museum catalogues in February 2021.
Bosses admitted that the number of stolen artefacts from the British Museum is ‘closer to 2,000’ with the total value of missing pieces thought to run into ‘millions of pounds’, reports have said.
Last week the British Museum announced that items from its collection were found to be ‘missing, stolen or damaged’ and that a member of staff, since named as curator Peter John Higgs, has been sacked.
Legal action is being taken by the museum against the individual and police are investigating but no arrests have been made.
Dr Ittai Gradel, an expert in Roman antiquities, contacted the museum after spotting items for sale online that he had seen in museum catalogues
The British Museum worker sacked over missing priceless treasures has been named as Peter John Higgs, 56
Mr Gradel said last week: ‘I alerted the British Museum on 28 February 2021. I was – shall we say – not pleased with the reaction or lack of reaction that I had from them.’
He added the culprit may have also taken ‘unregistered items’ from the museum collection, but ‘became so sloppy that they put on eBay two items that had been published in the British Museum catalogue from 1926.
‘I recognised them.’
One Roman object, valued at £25,000 to £50,000 by dealers, was offered for just £40 according to Mr Gradel.
But new correspondence has shown the museum ignored his warning, with Deupty Director Jonathan Williams responding in July to tell him ‘there was no suggestion of any wrongdoing’, the BBC reports.
READ MORE: Revealed: British Museum serial thief ‘stole and destroyed nearly 2,000 precious artefacts worth millions of pounds for YEARS without going detected’
Mr Williams is also said to have told him there had been a ‘thorough investigation’ and that the ‘collection was protected.’
Mr Gradel followed up with the museum multiple times, including by contacting the museum board’s trustees.
It is understood the director, Hartwig Fischer, informed trustees all the items mentioned by Mr Gradel were still ‘in the collection’.
Mr Gradel’s allegations even reached board member and former Chancellor George Osbourne, who said he had taken the concerns ‘very seriously’.
But Mr Fischer is said to have responded to trustees and told them ‘there is no evidence to substantiate the allegations’.
It was announced last month that Mr Fischer will stand down from his role as director of the British Museum in 2024.
The museum has not specified how many items have been stolen or detailed what the missing items are, saying only that were ‘small pieces’ including ‘gold jewellery and gems of semi-precious stones and glass dating from the 15th century BC to the 19th century AD.’
Mr Higgs had worked at the British Museum as a curator for 35 years until earlier this year
Higgs’ family insist he will be cleared of all the allegations against him
The number of the stolen items is now believed to be ‘well over 1,000’ and ‘closer to 2,000’, with a value running into ‘millions of pounds’, the Daily Telegraph reports.
The artefacts have not recently been on public display and were kept in a storeroom, mainly used for research and academic work, the museum previously said.
It appears ‘increasingly likely’ that the museum might never know exactly what has been stolen because of ‘gaps in its inventory,’ the paper said.
An independent review of security has been launched and the matter is also under investigation by the economic crime command of the Metropolitan Police.
A museum source said that the directorate’s handling of the case has been ‘negligent and incompetent’ and that evidence presented to them was ignored.
The independent review will be led by former museum trustee Sir Nigel Boardman, and Lucy D’Orsi, chief constable of the British Transport Police, who will ‘kickstart’ a ‘vigorous’ programme to recover the stolen items.
A statement issued by the Metropolitan police said: ‘We have been working alongside the British Museum.
‘There is currently an ongoing investigation – there is no arrest and enquiries continue. We will not be providing any further information at this time.’
The British Museum declined to comment while the police investigation is on-going.
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