A piece of art stolen in a heist 16 years ago has been returned to Ealing Council.
The distinctive Wally Bird statue, said to be worth £30,000, was taken from the London authority’s Pitzhanger Manor House in 2007.
The bird – a pot designed to store tobacco – was produced in 1894 and is one of several made by three Southall-based potters, the Martin brothers.
It was part of a collection of valuable Martinware pottery taken by professional art thieves during two robberies.
Years later, researcher Nigel Wilson spotted the stolen statue in an auction catalogue and contacted the Ealing Council archivist, Dr Jonathan Oates.
Dr Oates got in touch with lawyer Christopher Marinello, an expert in tracing stolen works of art, who negotiated the unconditional return of the piece, providing his services at no cost to the council.
Ealing’s bout of good luck continued, with insurers Zurich Municipal waiving a requirement for the repayment of the insurance settlement.
Cabinet member for thriving communities Cllr Poly Knewstub said: ‘We are delighted that this Wally Bird statue has been returned to the borough nearly two decades after it was stolen.’
The Wally Bird is back on display.
