Stolen ceramic antiques recovered

This recovered lustre urn is valued at £55,000

Police say they have recovered all the valuable antiques stolen from a London museum earlier this year.

They were taken in a burglary at the De Morgan Centre in Wandsworth in July after thieves used a ladder to enter through a toilet window.

The centre is a public museum inside the West Hill Library and holds an extensive collection of 19th Century arts and crafts ceramics.

Police say the items were found on Friday in south London.

The recovered items were all William de Morgan pieces.

They included a red and gold lustre dish depicting a snake wrapped around the body of a winged dragon; a red and gold lustre dish with three peacocks; and a two handled lustre urn with snakes and putti (cherubs) playing musical instruments.

The approximate total value of the recovered items is in excess of £150,000.

Police say no arrests have been made and inquiries are continuing.

Det Sgt Vernon Rapley of the Met's Art and Antiques Unit, said: "We are really pleased to have been able to the return these beautiful objects in time for Christmas.

"We have been assured by the De Morgan Centre that they will be put back on display so that public can once again enjoy them."