The British Museum is taking legal action against a former curator accused of stealing hundreds of artifacts from its collections and selling them online, according to the Associated Press.
Peter Higgins, who was dismissed in July 2023 after over 1,800 pieces went missing, is being sued by the museum. The museum’s lawyers allege that Higgins “abused his position of trust” to steal ancient gemstones, gold jewelry, and other items from its storerooms over a decade.
Supreme Court Judge Heather Williams has ordered Higgins to disclose or return any items in his possession within four weeks. She also mandated the disclosure of his records on eBay and PayPal.
The museum claims to have recovered 356 missing pieces so far and hopes to retrieve more.
According to museum lawyer Daniel Burgess, the stolen items have “cultural and historical significance.”
Burgess stated that the accused attempted to “cover his tracks” by using fake names, creating forged documents, manipulating museum records, and selling artifacts below their value.
Higgins, who worked in the museum’s Greek and Roman department for over two decades, denies these allegations and intends to contest the museum’s legal claim.
Higgins’s lawyers stated that he did not attend yesterday’s hearing due to his deteriorating health.
A separate police investigation into the matter is ongoing, and no charges have been filed against Higgins.
The museum’s director, Hartwig Fischer, resigned after the missing pieces were discovered in August, apologizing for failing to heed a warning from an art historian that items from its collection were being sold on eBay.
The incident has damaged the reputation of the 265-year-old institution.
The British Museum, located in Bloomsbury, central London, dates back to the 18th century and is one of Britain’s top tourist attractions, visited by six million people annually. It houses a diverse range of artifacts, from Egyptian mummies and ancient Greek statues to Viking treasures and Chinese hair scrolls from the 12th century, along with masks made by indigenous peoples in Canada.
