Louvre Hit Again: 400 Rare Books Damaged by Water Leak After $102 Million Jewel Theft
Water leak at Louvre damages 300-400 rare books weeks after $102 million jewel heist.
The Louvre Museum, still reeling from a $102 million daylight jewel heist in October, is confronting another setback after a water leak damaged hundreds of rare works, mostly books, officials said. The incident underscores ongoing challenges in preserving the museum’s priceless collections.
Francis Steinbock, the museum’s deputy administrator, confirmed that at least 300-400 works were affected, mainly books and journals, though the final count is ongoing. Most of the damaged volumes are Egyptology journals and scientific documentation from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
The leak, which was discovered in late November, is linked to a longstanding issue, with repairs scheduled for next year. Steinbock emphasized that there have been “no irreparable and definitive losses” so far, and the affected volumes will undergo drying, binding, and restoration before being returned to the shelves.
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The latest incident adds to a series of troubles at the Louvre. In November, structural weaknesses forced the partial closure of a gallery housing Greek vases and offices. Earlier, in October, thieves stole eight priceless royal jewels, including an emerald-and-diamond necklace from Napoleon I and a diamond-studded diadem of Empress Eugénie, in less than seven minutes.
Security footage of the heist showed at least four individuals breaking into the Apollo Gallery using power tools, escaping on scooters, and evading capture. The stolen jewels have yet to be recovered, prompting the museum to move its most precious items to the Bank of France for safety.
Despite these challenges, the Louvre reassures that no heritage artifacts were affected by the water damage. Museum officials continue to monitor the situation closely, prioritizing restoration and enhanced security measures to safeguard its invaluable collections from further incidents.
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