ST. PETERSBURG, May 29 (RIA Novosti) - Two 17th century exhibits have been stolen from the Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography (Kunstkamera) in St. Petersburg, the St. Petersburg and Leningrad Region police department told RIA Novosti.
The disappearance from a display box in the North and South America Hall of a small statue of a running man and a small sculpture in the shape of a garden pavilion made of bronze and porcelain (China, 17th century) was noticed on Saturday.
"The approximate value of each exhibit is 278,000 rubles ($1 = 28.08 rubles), a source in the police department said.
The display box with exhibits was equipped with security alarm system, although it was out of operation at the time, he added.
At present, the police are attempting to establish the identity of the robber.
Located on the Neva Embankment in the historical center of St. Petersburg, the Kunstkamera building has been a symbol of the Russian Academy of Sciences, which was founded by Peter the Great. The museum opened its doors for general public in 1714. It was founded to collect and study rare items created by Nature and the humankind. At present, the collection of the Peter the Great Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography (Kunstkamera) is one of the richest and interesting in the world. It has more than 1 million exhibits and represents the diversity of cultures of the Old and the New World.
At the same time, the museum remains a large research center for studies of the world cultural heritage, continuing the traditions of 18th-20th century Russian ethnographers and anthropologists.
