Durham University’s Oriental Museum to reopen

Durham University's Oriental Museum to reopen. Durham University's Oriental Museum is set to reopen this Monday, April 16, after being temporarily closed following a break-in when two ancient Chinese artefacts were stolen. The museum, on Elvet Hill, in Durham City, was temporarily closed to the public following the theft earlier this month (April 5). Damage caused during the burglary has been repaired and the museum - the only museum in the North of Britain devoted entirely to the art and archaeology of the Orient - will reopen its doors to the public at 10am on Monday. In announcing the reopening of the museum the University has renewed its appeal for the return of the stolen artefacts. It has also reaffirmed its commitment to making its collections available for public display and scholarly use. On the night of Thursday, April 5, thieves broke into the Malcolm MacDonald Gallery on the Oriental Museum's ground floor, taking with them a large jade bowl and a porcelain sculpture which have not been recovered.