France to Temporarily Remove Vulnerable Museum Treasures After Theft of Celtic Torque

Following the theft of a unique 2,500-year-old Celtic gold torque from the museum of Châtillon-sur-Seine in Burgundy, the French government announced a 33-point security package to protect endangered artworks. The Torque of Vix, a masterpiece of Celtic culture, was stolen on Friday when thieves entered as visitors, smashed a secured display case, and escaped. A suspect has been arrested. The measure includes a nationwide inventory of high-risk institutions, unannounced security inspections by ministry specialists, and additional staff training. Sensitive exhibits may be temporarily removed from display until their presentation is better secured, but originals will not be replaced by copies. The theft continues a series of break-ins at French museums since the Louvre's Apollo Gallery heist in October 2025. Separately, at Sotheby's New York, Henri Matisse's 1919 painting "La Chaise lorraine" sold for $41.5 million, far above its $25 million estimate. At Dorotheum Vienna, Carla Accardi's double-sided painting "Fonda notte"/"Pieno giorno" (1986) fetched €400,000, ten times its estimate. At Christie's New York, Constantin Brancusi's gilt bronze "Danaïde" (c. 1913) from the S. I. Newhouse collection set a record at $93 million. A major Brancusi exhibition runs until August 9 at the Neue Nationalgalerie in Berlin.