In a plot worthy of a Hollywood heist film, thieves mingled with other visitors to an exhibition in Venice on Wednesday before brazenly making off with gems of "indisputably elevated value," the canal city's police chief said.
The working theory being developed by investigating officers suggests that at least two people entered the Doge's Palace -- a popular tourist spot in Venice where a selection of Indian jewelry from the Qatari royal collection was on display to the public.
One suspect acted as lookout while the other grabbed the jewels from a display case, police believe.
To read more on CNN:
http://edition.cnn.com/style/article/venice-jewelry-heist-intl/index.html
Images below from the Al-Thani collection exhibitions staged in New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art, and London's Victoria and Albert Museum. Images courtesy Alex Boyle, AAD, and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
Tiger Finial from the Throne of Tippoo Sultan (1750-1799), Mysore India, Circa 1790 Gold inlaid with Diamonds, Rubies and Emeralds - Image Courtsey | Alex Boyle, AAD
Tippoo Sultan's Magic Box, Mysore, India, Circa 1789-1798, Gold, Each of the twenty equilateral faces bears a number in Arabic Used as common factors in Euclidean Geometry Pioneered by the Ancient Greeks - Image Courtesy | Alex Boyle, AAD
Example of early Mughal Jade - Image Courtesy | Alex Boyle, AAD
Turban Jewellry, Jaipur or Hyderbad 19th Century - Gold and Silver set with Diamonds and with Pendent Spinels, Enamelled on the back - Author's own image
Locket Pendant, Mughul India, 17th Century, Gold Inlaid with Rubies and Emeralds - Image Courtesy | Alex Boyle
A Ceremonial Sword Circa 1880 - 1910. Hyderbad - Image AAD
The Gold hilt set with Diamonds, Rubies and Emeralds - Image AAD
Turban Jewellry, possibly Hyderbad - Gold set with Emeralds and Diamonds - Author's own image
A showcase of fiine jewellry in the Exhibition - image AAD
The Nabha Spinel - Royal Collection Trust / © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2015
Necklace 19th or 20th Century, possibly Hyderbad - Gold set with Diamonds and an Emerald bead, Enamelled on the edges - Image Courtesy | Alex Boyle
Necklace possibly circa 1900, probably Hyderbad - Gold and Silver set with foiled Emeralds and Diamonds, the chord ends wrapped with Natural Pearls - Image Courtesy | Alex Boyle
Sapphire and Diamond Turban ornament (sarpech), India, ca.1920; modified ca.1925 - 35 - Image Courtesy | Alex Boyle
Tiger Finial from the Throne of Tippoo Sultan (1750-1799), Mysore India, Circa 1790 Gold inlaid with Diamonds, Rubies and Emeralds
Huma Bird - Royal Collection Trust / © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2015
Front view of the Throne of Tippoo Sultan, text by Benjamin Sydenham, drawings by Thomas Marriott - Wikipedia
Top View - The Throne of Tippoo Sultan
Tippoo
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