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Main entrance to Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, England. Photo copyright Andrew Dunn, Sept. 9, 2004, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.

Chinese artifacts stolen from Cambridge University museum

Catherine Saunders-Watson
Catherine Saunders-Watson
Main entrance to Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, England. Photo copyright Andrew Dunn, Sept. 9, 2004, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.
Main entrance to Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, England. Photo copyright Andrew Dunn, Sept. 9, 2004, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.

LONDON (AP) – British police say 18 rare and mostly jade Chinese artifacts have been stolen from Cambridge University’s Fitzwilliam Museum.

Cambridgeshire Police on Wednesday described the stolen artifacts, which include a 14th century Ming Jade cup and belong to the museum’s permanent collection, as “very valuable” and of “great cultural significance.”

Cambridge University declined to comment on the value of the items.

Police said the artifacts were stolen by a “group of people” in a raid at around 7:30 p.m. on Friday, and appealed to the public for help locating the items.

Earlier this month, police recovered two Chinese artifacts valued together at more than 2 million pounds ($3.2 million) from the Oriental Museum at Durham University.

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ADDITIONAL IMAGE OF NOTE

Main entrance to Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, England. Photo copyright Andrew Dunn, Sept. 9, 2004, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.
Main entrance to Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, England. Photo copyright Andrew Dunn, Sept. 9, 2004, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.