How Embarrasing This Must Have Been!

[Kor37 9]

Museumgoer Shatters Vases After Stumble

 

 

CorbisThis Qing dynasty vase sold for nearly $15 million at a Sotheby's auction in Hong Kong last year.

 

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CAMBRIDGE, England (Jan. 30) - A museum visitor shattered three Qing dynasty Chinese vases when he tripped on his shoelace, stumbled down a stairway and brought the vases crashing to the floor, officials said Monday.

 

The three vases, dating from the late 17th or early 18th century, had been donated to the Fitzwilliam Museum in the university city of Cambridge in 1948, and were among its best-known artifacts. They had been sitting proudly on the window sill beside the staircase for 40 years.

 

"It was a most unfortunate and regrettable accident, but we are glad that the visitor involved was able to leave the museum unharmed," said Duncan Robinson, the Fitzwilliam's director.

 

The museum declined to identify the man who had tripped on a loose shoelace Wednesday.

 

Asked about the porcelain vases, Margaret Greeves, the museum's assistant director, said: "They are in very, very small pieces, but we are determined to put them back together."

 

The museum declined to say what the vases were worth.

 

 

01/30/06 08:36 EST

 

 

 

 

I wonder how many times the guy said DOH! as he was falling down the stairs......

 

Seriously, the museum is partially at fault as will. These vases have a value of around 15 million dollars and they put them on a window sill next to a stairway??? :huh:

[Takara_Soong 4]

Seriously, the museum is partially at fault as will. These vases have a value of around 15 million dollars and they put them on a window sill next to a stairway???

More than partially IMO. It is absolutely ludicrous to leave vases worth that much in the open like that. I'm surprised their insurance carrier would allow it.

[Theunicornhunter 2]

Yes, I'd agree the responsibility lies on the museum.