One of France's most important treasures, which had been stolen almost 50 years ago has been returned by a Dutch art sleuth.
The 1st-century bronze sculpture statue of the god Bacchus had been stolen in December 1973 from Musee du Pays Chatillonnais in eastern France.
For the heist, thieves smashed a window, crawled through the bars, and pilfered the 40 centimetres statue of the god of wine.
Arthur Brand's previous finds include a Picasso painting and "Hitler's Horses", sculptures that once stood outside the Nazi leader's Berlin chancellery.
A Dutch art detective has returned a rare Roman statue that was considered one of France’s most important treasures to the museum from which it was stolen nearly 50 years ago.
Arthur Brand, dubbed the “Indiana Jones of the art world” for his exploits, handed back the first-century bronze statue of the god Bacchus to the director of the Musee du Pays Chatillonnais in eastern France.
<strong>DECEMBER HEIST</strong>
It was from there on a cold evening in December 1973 that thieves smashed a window, crawled through the bars and pilfered the 40cm statue of the god of wine.
“The criminals made off with some