The Ming Dynasty vase was stolen.

The Ming Dynasty vase with fish motifs was stolen.

According to The Value on the evening of April 25th, the theft occurred in the early hours of last weekend, and the search has not yet yielded any results. Three people bypassed the alarm system and stole an artifact from the 16th century. This is a vase crafted during the reign of Emperor Ming Shizong (1507-1567), intended for the emperor's viewing.

According to the museum, the alarm system was functioning normally, and staff called the police immediately after the alarm sounded. However, by the time the police arrived, the thieves had escaped. Authorities stated that the three perpetrators had planned the crime in advance, employing professional and sophisticated methods, with the entire operation taking only six minutes. Police are currently searching for the culprits by reviewing CCTV footage.

Museum representatives stated that the fish-shaped vase is a treasure of immeasurable value. It wouldn't be easy for the thief to sell the artifact, as the whole world knows it was stolen from the museum. The mastermind is likely an obsessive antique collector who risked hiring someone to steal it.

Mariemont Royal Museum

This piece is a five-colored vase – a famous type of Ming Dynasty pottery, highly sought after by collectors for its vibrant colors and lively details. The body of the vase features a motif of fish swimming in water – a design influenced by Taoist culture, symbolizing carefree freedom. Emperor Ming Shizong was also a devout follower of Taoism.

The artwork originally belonged to the tycoon Raoul Warocké (1870-1917), who acquired the artifact during a visit to China in 1912. Raoul Warocké was involved in various businesses such as railways, minerals, fuel, and electricity, and was 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 nation, and were later assembled and placed in the Mariemont Museum.

Hồ Huệ Xuân's private residence once displayed two Ming Dynasty vases with fish motifs.

The museum did not provide an estimated price for the piece, but according to auction experts, the artifact is worth no less than $25 million. In 2017, a similar vase was hammered in Hong Kong for HK$210 million ($25.8 million), becoming the third most expensive Ming Dynasty vase ever auctioned. The buyer was Hong Kong banking tycoon Hu Huichun.

Around the world, Ming Dynasty multicolored ceramic vases with fish-shaped lids are mostly preserved in museums, with only a few privately owned. These vases are housed in museums such as the Palace Museum in Beijing, the Guimet Museum (France), and the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco.

University (according to VnExpress)

Source: https://baohaiduong.vn/chiec-binh-thoi-minh-bi-danh-cap-379963.html