The glass doorway to the Mayfair was smashed in with a breezeblock, said the gallery’s Leon Sassoon, who arrived on the scene after being alerted by a call from the gallery’s alarm company at around 3.15am.
The large Chinese rug was torn from the wall and a large Apple computer was also missing. It is thought that the rug may have been used to wrap up and transport the computer.
Hand knotted in wool, the rug dates to around 1850 and measures 6ft 4in x 7ft 11in (1.93 x 2.4m)
Anyone with information on the crime should contact the police and quote crime reference number 6549434/18.