Louvre faces new blow as water leak damages hundreds of ancient books
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(Credits: Louvre)
The Louvre has faced a new blow after a water leak damaged around 400 ancient books at the end of last month, it has emerged.
The museum revealed on December 7th that between “300 and 400 works” were harmed when the leak was discovered on November 26th, with the books in question including “Egyptology journals” and “scientific documentation.
According to the Louvre’s deputy administrator, Francis Steinbock, in comments made via The Guardian, the damaged artefacts were “extremely useful” but “by no means unique.”
“No heritage artefacts have been affected by this damage,” he said. “At this stage, we have no irreparable and definitive losses in these collections.”
It comes as the second blow to the iconic Paris museum in quick succession, after it hit global headlines in October when thieves were able to stage a heist of over £76.5 million worth of jewels.
The robbery took place over just seven minutes and in broad daylight, hence raising criticism and scrutiny over the Louvre’s security and infrastructure.
For the part of the most recent water leak, Steinbock said an investigation had been launched after it was discovered that a valve had accidentally been opened in the heating and ventilation system, causing water to seep through the ceiling into the Mollien wing, where the books were being stored.
The incident has raised suspicion since the system had been “completely obsolete” for months and had been due to be replaced in September next year.
However, Steinbock said the damaged books are set to “be dried, sent to a bookbinder to be restored, and then returned to the shelves.”
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