The British royal family’s art collection organization received a £3 million ($4 million) insurance payment after two historic snuff boxes were stolen from a Paris museum last year. The items, part of a “pocket luxury” exhibition at the Musée Cognacq-Jay, were taken during a brazen daytime robbery.
The stolen artifacts included a diamond-encrusted snuff box with nearly 3,000 gems and another adorned with gold, depicting the birth of Venus. According to Paris police, armed robbers stormed the museum on scooters, threatened a guard with an ax, and smashed a display case to seize several items.
The Royal Collection Trust, which oversees the royal family’s artworks, confirmed the insurance settlement in its annual financial report. The funds will be allocated to enhancing the collection. The snuff boxes, dating back centuries, were among the valuables lost in the heist, highlighting the risks of displaying priceless artifacts.
