Paris' Louvre Museum is once again in the spotlight after the authorities recently announced that several hundred works from the Egyptian department were damaged due to a water leak late in November. The incident reportedly occurred on 26 November, almost a month after a daring jewellery heist in which Napoleonic jewellery worth $102 million was stolen in broad daylight.
The museum’s deputy general manager, Francis Steinbock, elaborated on the extent of damage and informed that periodicals and archaeological reviews dating from the late 19th and early 20th centuries were damaged. As per The Guardian report, the water leak damaged between 300 and 400 works. Egyptologists and students regularly consulted these treasured works.
Even though the damaged items were “extremely useful”, they were not “unique”, said Steinbock. Suggesting that the losses in these collections are not significant, Steinbock added, “At this stage, we have no irreparable and definitive losses in these collections.”
“No heritage artefacts have been affected by this damage," The Guardian quoted the deputy administrator as saying.
According to a Bloomberg report, the world's most visited museum suffered a leak from a water pipe that damaged treasured items kept in its library on Egyptian antiquities. In the Mollien wing, a valve from an obsolete heating and ventilation system accidentally opened, which caused water to seep through the ceiling. The system was shut off for several months and was due to be replaced in September 2026.
Restoration of damaged works in progress
Francis Steinbock said that restoration of damaged works is in progress, which will “be dried, sent to a bookbinder to be restored, and then returned to the shelves.” The concerned authorities launched an internal investigation into the leak.
Notably, four suspects have been charged in the October jewel robbery, but the whereabouts of the precious jewellery— including royal necklaces, tiaras and earrings — are still unknown. The theft took place in a span of just seven minutes.
Concerns over the museum's infrastructure have been raised in the past, prompting the museum authorities to plan a 45% increase in ticket price to boost annual revenues by up to $23 million to fund structural improvements. In 2024, nearly 8.7 million tourists visited the Louvre, 69% from abroad.
