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LONDON — The director of the British Museum introduced his resignation on Friday, accepting blame for the mishandling of thefts of treasures from its assortment.
Director Hartwig Fischer stated in a press release that the museum didn’t “reply as comprehensively because it ought to have in response to the warnings in 2021, and to the issue that has now totally emerged.
“The accountability for that failure should in the end relaxation with the director.”
The British Museum — probably the most visited museums on the earth — acknowledged final week that gadgets have been lacking, stolen or broken from its assortment, together with “gold jewellery and gems of semiprecious stones and glass relationship from the fifteenth century BC to the nineteenth century AD.” Nearly all of these gadgets had not been on show however slightly stored in a storeroom and used for tutorial and analysis functions.
The museum fired an worker final week over the thefts and stated it intends to pursue authorized motion. The Metropolitan Police are additionally investigating.
When contacted by The Washington Publish, the museum stated it might not affirm what number of gadgets have been taken due to the continuing police inquiry. However the Telegraph newspaper stated it was the museum’s “largest ever” theft and, citing unnamed sources, stated that greater than 1,500 gadgets have been stolen.
British Museum fires employee over ‘lacking, stolen and broken’ treasures
Fischer, a German artwork historian and the primary non-British director of the museum for the reason that 1860s, introduced earlier this summer season that he could be stepping down subsequent yr. However his departure will now be hastened. The museum initially stated on Friday that he could be stepping down with quick impact, however then stated he would depart as soon as a successor was discovered.
In his assertion, Fischer stated he additionally regretted having prompt that Ittai Gradel — the British-Danish antiquities vendor who first alerted the museum to suspected thefts two years in the past — had impeded the investigation by withholding data.
Gradel informed British media that he had proven the museum proof that gadgets have been being offered on eBay, typically for a fraction of their worth. The Telegraph reported that one semiprecious stone, estimated to be value as much as £50,000 ($63,000), was supplied on eBay for a minimal value of £40 ($50), however nobody appeared to bid on it.
Gradel informed British media shops that many particular person gadgets hadn’t been registered within the museum’s information, making them troublesome to hint and get better.
The British Museum is 270 years outdated and has greater than 8 million gadgets in its assortment.
Issues have gone lacking earlier than. In 2011, a Cartier diamond ring stated to be value practically $1 million disappeared. In 2004, 15 items of Chinese language jewellery have been taken from a cupboard. In 1993, Roman cash have been stolen by burglars who broke into the museum through the roof.
The Instances of London stated on Thursday that museum information, obtained by a freedom of data request, confirmed that “lots of” of things have been marked down as misplaced over the previous 10 years, together with historical cash and picket opium poppy scorers.
An answer for the Elgin marbles: Robotic-carved replicas?
Greek officers stated the latest thefts from the museum’s assortment raised questions in regards to the safety protocols. They renewed requires Britain to return the Parthenon Sculptures, or Elgin marbles, which have been taken from Greece within the early nineteenth century.