The Renaissance-era helmet and body armor were made in Milan and inlaid with gold and silver, according to a statement from the Louvre on Thursday.
Baroness Salomon de Rothschild donated the armor to the French state in 1922. The pieces were on display at the Louvre when they were stolen overnight from May 31 to June 1, 1983, the statement said.
“The circumstances of the theft of these pieces, which were little known to the general public, had remained a mystery,” the museum said.
The theft “deeply alarmed” museum staff at the time, but the armor has now been recovered thanks to the work of investigators, the statement said.
The armor will be on display in the Objets d’Art rooms in the Richelieu wing when the Louvre reopens. It closed to the public in October last year due to coronavirus blocking.
The armor will be on display when the museum reopens. Credit: THOMAS SAMSON / AFPGetty images
Such thefts are rare, but not unheard of.
One of the museum’s most famous works was stolen over 100 years ago.
Before the 20th century, Leonardo da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa” was not particularly well known outside of art circles. But in 1911, a former Louvre employee stole the portrait and hid it for two years.
Public fascination with the theft has since helped strengthen the painting’s place in popular culture.
The “Mona Lisa” is one of the top attractions in the world’s most visited museum.
Last year, the Louvre lost more than 90 million euros ($ 109 million) in revenue and saw a 72% drop in visitors due to disruption caused by the pandemic.
However, the museum is making the most of the closures by carrying out long-planned renovations.