Some of the works of goldsmith Joseph Chaumet have been stolen from France's Musée Hieron. The thieves targeted, among other things, figurines with the following decorations: The diamonds were part of a 3-meter-high marble sculpture decorated with the most expensive precious stones and gold. The perpetrators of the attack managed to escape before police arrived. The museum said it will be closed until further notice.
The attack occurred on Thursday at the Hieron Museum in Parail-le-Monial in central France. 16:00 local time when armed robbers entered the building on a motorcycle.
France. A national treasure was stolen. he is worth millions
According to information provided to the media by the local mayor, there were four perpetrators. Three of them entered the building and one stood outside guarding the entrance.
Jean-Marc Nesme added that the thieves fired several shots at the 3-metre-tall painting depicting the life of Christ. This sculpture was created in 1904 by jeweler and goldsmith Joseph Chaumet. Monuments are made of precious metals, precious stones and ivory. It consists of 138 figures set with diamonds and rubies in different shades of marble.
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The thieves used special tools to cut through the armored glass that protects the works and stole figurines and jewelry ornaments. Police said the entire operation lasted just a few minutes, and the thieves left spikes on the road to make it harder for police to track them down while they fled. They managed to escape before police arrived on the scene.
Yesterday, an armed robbery occurred at the Hieron Museum in Paray-le-Monial, Saône-et-Loire. Jeweler Chaumet's Chemin de Vie, which is designated as a national treasure, was damaged and some parts were stolen. I condemn these unacceptable acts in the strongest terms… pic.twitter.com/grazbLSiIJ
— Rashida Dati (@datirachida) November 22, 2024
Hieron Museum will be closed during the investigation
The mayor said the value of the “Via Vitae” sculpture is estimated at around 7 million euros. “This is a great loss for Parail le Monial and for the national heritage,” he added, recalling that the statue was classified as a national treasure by the French Ministry of Culture.
The Hieron Museum has released a statement regarding this matter. “Following the brutal attack that took place on Thursday, November 21st, the Hieron Museum has confirmed that some of jeweler Joseph Chaumet's works 'Via Vita' have been stolen,” the statement said.
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It was emphasized that the facility authorities are working closely with the police, gendarmerie, and city government to recover the national treasure. “An investigation into this huge loss is ongoing. We have taken all possible safeguards,” they asserted. The announcement added that the museum will be closed until further notice. This decision was taken in the interest of research and to provide services in the best possible working conditions.
The Hieron Museum is one of the oldest museums of religious art in France. The facility has been the target of theft before. Two gold crowns were stolen there in 2017, and an attempted robbery occurred in 2022.
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