Museums and Institutions

A third stolen Martinware bird has been recovered more than 15 years after it was stolen in west London.

British Museum director Hartwig Fischer has announced that he will be stepping down from his position with immediate effect after a series of thefts emerged.

Twenty years ago a man walked into Anne Boleyn’s bedroom at Hever Castle and stole five miniature portraits from a glass vitrine cabinet.

The British Museum is investigating the theft of jewellery and has dismissed a member of staff following the discovery that items from its “collection were found to be missing, stolen or damaged”.

A rare medieval seal matrix that was found by a metal detectorist in a field and offered at auction will now go on display at its original home.

Fundraising is under way at two museums and a third has just finished a lengthy conservation project.

Compton Verney has confirmed the purchase of a rare 17th century double portrait depicting two women, one black and one white. It had previously sold at auction in 2021.

The Art Fund’s latest annual review revealed it had helped support acquisitions of more than 900 objects and works of art for museums in 2022.

A letter of justification by the woman who assassinated the French Revolutionary journalist and politician Jean-Paul Marat has been bought by a group of Normandy institutions at auction.

National Museums NI has bought Pierre-Auguste Renoir’s (1841-1919) L’allée au bois via the government’s Acceptance in Lieu scheme for the Ulster Museum.