STOLEN BIRD - is it you're object that use to sit on the abook shelf ? ...Possibly not....

Bird is 510 year old. Three dimensional driftwood from West Greenland

"But it could be your own treasured ornament - how would you describe it and identify it if it was damaged in a flood, fire and lost to theft"

Keeping Object Inventory is just as important in a domestic home as it is in museum, art gallery, church etc.

WHY INVENTORY of ART etc ? - Firstly, for easy establishment of your investment valuation and allow better negotiation with ones insurance requirements, Secondly, to monitor and keep ones investment secure. Thirdly, in the case of theft, a stolen object must, have been, adequately documented before it can be returned to its rightful owner. Fourthly, in the case of theft, the information about the object should be able to travel rapidly and circulated among a number of organisations. - so efficient action can take place - the results can be as follows :

FOUND!

AXA Art are delighted to announce the recovery of a Thomas Tompion clock, which was stolen last year from Levens Hall in Cumbria.

"It is with huge thanks to the Cumbrian police that this rare clock was recovered and that it will soon be back in the hands of its owners. It is extremely rare for clocks to be recovered, which makes this recovery even more of a wonderful result."

-Clare Dewey

Claims Manager, AXA Art UK

The clock was stolen from Levens Hall, near Kendal in the early hours of the 19th September 2009. A man from Wakefield has been charged with theft after the clock was recovered by police officers at a Service Station on the M62.

AXA Art takes an active approach in pursuing stolen works of art, antiques and musical instruments. In working closely with the police and specialist art loss adjusters, AXA Art takes every possible measure to help aid the safe recovery of its clients’ prized possessions.

FOUND! AXA ART INSURANCE can announce the safe recovery of a stolen barometer worth tens of thousands of pounds. The 17th century ivory and brass-plated barometer - one of the Fairfax House Museum in York’s most prized possessions - was the victim of acaught-on-camera theft that occurred at the Museum towards the end of May 2009. The recovery was made after a voluntary, confidential tip-off allowed the Police to locate the valuable piece and arrest the thieves. The York Civic Trust-owned property in Castlegate was visited by a man and woman whose removal of the barometer was filmed by the museum’s security cameras. The footage, which showed in detail the thieves unscrew the barometer from the wall in the Georgian townhouse and conceal it under one of their overcoats, was released by police shortly after the theft. As a result of the publicity generated, both locally and nationally, information was provided to the police that enabled them to mount an operation, recover the item and to make an arrest. "We would like to express our thanks to the North Yorkshire police for recovering this item safely and returning it to Fairfax House." says Clare Dewey, Claims Manager at AXA Art UK - the museum’s insurer - "The David Quare barometer is now back where it belongs." Mark Dalrymple, AXA Art’s appointed Loss-Adjuster, said: "It seemed an extremely well-planned theft. I have no doubt that the pair had been to the museum on a number of occasions planning the theft.” The three-foot artefact, which has been reinstalled at the museum, is part of the renowned Noel Terry Collection (of Terry’s Chocolate Orange fame) of English Furniture and Clocks - an important part of the city's history. It is attributed to either Daniel Quare, the English clockmaker, instrument maker and inventor, or to John Patrick, another eminent manufacturer of this style of barometer in the period between 1690 – 1710.