A 19th-century bronze sculpture that vanished from a French zoo in 1993 has been recovered in the United States and returned to northern France, where it is now displayed at the Musée de Picardie in Amiens.
The work, Faune Chasseur by Alfred Lepère, was commissioned by the French State in 1863 and belongs to the national collection managed by the Centre National des Arts Plastiques. It had been exhibited at the Amiens Zoo before disappearing more than three decades ago.
The piece was identified during due diligence ahead of a planned sale by an auction-house client of the Art Loss Register. By comparing the sculpture with its global database, specialists confirmed its history before it could enter the market.
The recovery highlights how provenance research and digital record-keeping are reshaping the art world, helping institutions track cultural objects across borders and time. In the years ahead, these tools may make heritage protection even more precise and effective.
