Rare icons found on internet 27 years after theft

A private museum in Russia has had some of its artifacts seized by Police after they turned out to be stolen.

The museum put the 16th and 17th century icons on its website for sale, and they were spotted by an eagle-eyed expert.

The ten icons had been stolen from a Museum in Velikij Ustjug in Northern Russia twenty seven years ago.

They are valued at more than one and a half million dollars, and are said to be fine examples of what are known as the `Northern School` of icon painting.

Mystery still surrounds, what happened between the icons being stolen, and their eventual appearance on the website this year.

Art experts are now going to examine the seized pieces to confirm their authenticity. It`s expected the icons will be then returned to the museum in Velikij Ustjug from where they were stolen.

sections: Society