Paris police have recovered five of seven 18th-century snuffboxes stolen from the Cognacq-Jay Museum in November 2024. โขthe boxes,part of the “pocket Luxury” exhibition,were โฃtaken during a daylight robbery byโฃ masked thieves.
Paris โขMusรฉes, the institution overseeing the city’s museums, โคannounced the recovery this week,โค stating, “Thanks to a thorough โexamination conducted by the โฃpolice, with the assistance of theโฃ Paris criminal Investigation Department, fiveโฃ snuff boxes of great ancient and heritage value have been recovered and are now safe.” Authorities have not yet disclosed details regarding the location or circumstancesโ of โthe recovery.
The stolen collection included itemsโข on loan from prominent โฃinstitutions. Twoโ boxes originated from the Louvre โin Paris, two from the Royal โคCollection Trust in the UK, and one from โtheโฃ Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Two remain missing – one fromโ the V&A andโข oneโ from theโ Royalโฃ Collection.
The Cognacq-Jay Museum’s collection was assembled โby Ernest Cognacq, founder of the La Samaritaine department stores, whoโ bequeathed his holdingsโ to the city of Parisโข upon his death inโ 1928. The recovered and stolenโข snuffboxes, historicallyโข used toโค hold powdered tobacco,โฃ are adorned with materials such as gold, precious stones, mother-of-pearl, โคand enamel, โคand are โคcollectively estimated to be worthโ at least โฌ1 โmillion.