Ittai Gradel, gems expert who uncovered British Museum thefts, dies aged 61

Ittai Gradel, a specialist in classical gems from Denmark, passed away at the age of 61 on 28 April 2023. His investigations revealed that numerous artifacts had been pilfered from the British Museum, which ultimately led to the resignation of director Hartwig Fischer in August 2023. Gradel initially reached out to the museum in 2021 regarding items listed on eBay, implicating senior curator Peter Higgs. After receiving no response, he followed up in October 2022. In January 2023, the museum acknowledged the loss of hundreds of stolen or damaged items, triggering a police inquiry. Higgs was terminated in July 2023. Out of 2,000 items involved, 1,500 were confirmed stolen, with 626 recovered. Under Nicholas Cullinan's leadership, the museum is still searching for the missing artifacts. Before his passing, Gradel was honored with a special award from Cullinan.