The Renaissance-era helmet and armor were made in Milan and inlaid in gold and silver, according to a statement from the Louvre on Thursday.
Baroness Salomon de Rothschild handed 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, according to the statement.
“The circumstances of the theft of these pieces, little known to the general public, remained a mystery,” said the museum.
The theft “deeply disturbed” museum officials at the time, but the armor has now been recovered thanks to the work of investigators, according to the statement.
The armor will be displayed in the Objets d’Art rooms in the Richelieu wing when the Louvre is reopened. It closed to the public in October last year due to restrictions on blocking the coronavirus.
The armor will be on display when the museum is reopened. Credit: THOMAS SAMSON / AFPGetty images
These thefts are rare, but they are not new.
One of the most famous works in the museum was stolen more than 100 years ago.
Before the 20th century, Leonardo da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa” was not especially known outside artistic circles. But in 1911, a former Louvre employee stole the portrait and hid it for two years.
The public fascination with theft has helped to consolidate the place of painting in popular culture since then.
The “Mona Lisa” is one of the main attractions of the most visited museum in the world.
Last year, the Louvre lost more than 90 million euros ($ 109 million) in revenue and saw a 72% drop in visitor numbers due to disruptions caused by the pandemic.
However, the museum is making the most of the closings by carrying out long-planned renovations.