Imperial Chinese wine jar stolen from Belgian museum

A Chinese imperial wine jar was stolen from the Royal Museum of Mariemont on Saturday night.

Three people reportedly broke in and stole the artefact, according to a press release from the museum in the province of Hainaut.

The porcelain jar with aquatic decoration is a masterpiece from the imperial Chinese workshops of the 16th century Ming dynasty. Nothing else was stolen during the burglary.

Recognised as a "treasure" by the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, the important piece was acquired by Belgian industrialist Raoul Warocqué after a diplomatic trip to China in 1912.

The Mariemont police were immediately alerted by the security team and arrived on the scene on Saturday night. The federal forensic police followed on Sunday morning and an investigation is under way.

Despite the incident, the museum remained open to the public on Sunday.

^{Royal Museum of Mariemont © PHOTO ARTERRA}