Thieves stole a Dehua porcelain sculpture, with a cream white glaze, of seven fairies in a boat, which is 30cm (11.8ins) in both height and length from Durham University Oriental Museum in a night raid.  Durham Police are looking for three men . The  item is from the Qing Dynasty, the last imperial dynasty in China,  from 1644 to 1911. They also took a  large green jade bowl, dating from 1769, part of the collection of Sir Charles Hardinge, a British collector of jades and hardstones. A Chinese poem is written inside.The estimated value of both pieces was £1.8m.

If you should be offered either of these pieces which are likely to have been stolen to order for a foreign collector please contact Durham police or Fairiesworld or their collaborators worldwide . A substantial reward is offered for the safe return of these items

seven fairies in a boat