Stolen Ming Dynasty Vase

According to The Value on the evening of April 25, the theft occurred at dawn last weekend, and so far there have been no results. Three people bypassed the alarm system and took the 16th century antique. This is a vase made during the reign of Emperor Ming Shizong (1507-1567), for the emperor to see.

According to the museum, the alarm system was working properly, and staff called the police immediately after the alarm went off, but by the time the police arrived, the thieves had already escaped. According to the authorities, the three had planned the crime in advance, and their methods were professional and sophisticated, and the entire process took only six minutes. The police are searching for the perpetrators through camera footage.

The museum representative said the fish-shaped vase was a treasure, and its value could not be estimated. It would not be easy for the thief to sell the antique, since the whole world knew it was stolen from the museum. The mastermind could be a fanatic antique lover who took the risk of hiring someone to steal it.

The work belongs to the five-color vase type - a famous type of pottery from the Ming Dynasty, sought after by collectors thanks to its bright colors and vivid lines. The belly of the vase has a pattern of fish swimming in water - a pattern influenced by Taoist culture, symbolizing freedom and ease. Emperor Ming Shizong was also a Taoist devotee.

The work was originally owned by tycoon Raoul Warocké (1870-1917), who acquired the artifact during a visit to China in 1912. Raoul Warocké was involved in many businesses such as railways, minerals, fuel, and electric power, and was once the richest man in Belgium in the early 20th century.

When Raoul Warocké died, most of his antiques - including the stolen vase - were donated to the state, where they were later collected and placed in the Mariemont museum.

The museum did not give an estimate for the piece, but auctioneers believe it could be worth no less than $25 million. In 2017, a similar vase was hammered in Hong Kong for $25.8 million, making it the third most expensive Ming vase ever sold at auction. The buyer was Hong Kong banking tycoon Hu Hui-chun.

In the world, the Ming Dynasty's five-color fish-shaped ceramic vases with lids are mainly preserved in museums, a few are privately owned. The Palace Museum in Beijing, the Guimet Museum (France), the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco... preserve this type of ceramic vase.