Police in Bristol are investigating a major museum burglary after thieves stole hundreds of artefacts, including rare Asian works of art and two highly valuable ivory carvings taken from India during the colonial era.
The break‑in, which occurred in the early hours of 25 September, targeted a storage building belonging to Bristol Museum. Four men wearing hoodies and caps forced entry between 1am and 2am, leaving the site ransacked. Staff discovered the theft the following morning, finding boxes overturned, shelves emptied and collections scattered across the floor.
Among the most significant losses are an intricately carved ivory elephant and an ivory statue of the Buddha, both considered culturally important pieces within the museum’s Asian collection. Bristol City Council released images of the missing items, describing them as “priceless examples of craftsmanship” and central to the museum’s documentation of Britain’s historical links with South and East Asia.
The stolen Asian artefacts formed part of a wider archive tracing Britain’s interactions with former colonies from the late 19th century onwards. The collection included decorative ivory, silverwork, bronze figurines and natural history specimens, as well as extensive film and photographic material from India, Africa and Southeast Asia. Many of these items were donated by families whose relatives lived or worked across the British Empire.
Detective Constable Dan Burgan said the theft represented a serious cultural loss. “These objects offer insight into complex layers of British and Asian history,” he said, urging the public to help identify the suspects and recover the artefacts.
The museum’s Asian holdings have long been a focal point for researchers studying colonial collecting practices, including the movement of religious objects such as Buddha statues into British institutions. The stolen ivory Buddha, carved with fine detail and believed to date from the early 20th century, was one of the museum’s most recognisable pieces.
The burglary has also revived discussion about Bristol’s own contested past. The city was once a major hub of the transatlantic slave trade, and in 2020 the toppling of the Edward Colston statue placed renewed scrutiny on how its museums present colonial history.
CCTV footage shows four white men in jackets, trainers and hoodies, with one appearing to walk with a slight limp. Police are appealing for information as the investigation continues.
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