$1.5 million stolen sculptures recovered

Five small ivory sculptures snatched from the Art Gallery of Ontario two weeks ago have been mysteriously returned, Toronto police said Saturday night.

The art, worth $1.5 million, was left at a legal firm downtown. But the lawyer who turned them over to police doesn't have to reveal details because of "client-solicitor privilege," said acting Supt. Don Campbell.

"We didn't ask any questions on how he received them and who dropped them off," Campbell said. Detectives are still looking for one or more suspects in the case, he added. No one at the law office will be charged.

"I feel an awful lot better," said billionaire Ken Thomson, who owns the palm-sized portraits. They were on loan to the AGO when stolen Jan. 17.

At a news conference, Thomson said that he's "so, so happy" to have the art back safely that he plans to sleep with the ivory carvings.

"I'm going to have one dog and five ivories on my bed tonight," he told reporters. Thomson said the theft was the single most traumatic event in his life after the loss of loved ones.

Security camera images helped police

The sculptures were returned one day after police released the photos of three "people of interest" who had been in the gallery the day the art disappeared. The images were taken by security cameras.

Police said they're sure the pictures played a key role in getting the carvings back, but they wouldn't confirm if any of the unidentified people are suspects.

A London-based insurance company initially offered a $150,000 reward for the safe return of the sculptures, which were taken from a locked glass case in the middle of the afternoon.

No money was paid out to get the art back, police said. A $10,000 reward is still being offered to help identify "persons of interest," according to investigators.

• FROM JAN. 30, 2003: $150,000 reward offered in AGO theft case

Thomson intends to keep the carvings at home for the time being, although he may lend them to the art gallery again. He might wait until the building is renovated and security tightened, he added.

The sculptures are by celebrated carver David Le Marchand. They include detailed ivory relief portraits of Sir Isaac Newton, Sir Humphrey Morice, and Sir Christopher Wren Jr.