Stolen vases back on display at home (From Worcester News)

Stolen vases back on display at home

5:10pm Saturday 7th January 2012 in News By Sarah Taylor

TWO stolen vases are back on display in a Worcestershire country house today after being discovered in an auction house.

The vases, taken from Hanbury Hall, near Droitwich, were found by police just before going on sale at an auction house in Gloucestershire.

Police recovered the goods alongside an estimated £30,000 of suspected stolen items at the un-named auction house in South Cerney.

The two Qianlong vases worth about £1,500 each were stolen from the National Trust property between March 16 and 17 last year.

They were recovered later that month after a phone call alerted Gloucestershire Police to the up-coming sale.

Two men from Dublin, aged 30 and 46, were arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods in connection with the recovered goods.

They were given police bail but failed to return. They are believed to have returned to Ireland.

Christopher Jackson, media and communications officer for Gloucestershire Police, said: “We’re delighted to have been able to reunite Hanbury Hall with the vases, ensuring the public will be able to view these beautiful antiques once again.

“Investigations are ongoing to trace the men who were arrested in connection with the case.”

The vases will be back on view from today. For more information about Hanbury Hall, call 01527 821214 or visit nationaltrust.org.uk/hanburyhall.