Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
A senior staff member of the French presidential palace is to stand trial for allegedly stealing precious tableware including Baccarat champagne flutes and Sèvres porcelain plates.
Approximately 100 of the missing items from the presidential collection were later found in the lockers, cars and home of Thomas M., who was reportedly the chief steward of the Elysée Palace. He will stand trial along with two others.
Investigators said they found items believed to be worth between €15,000 and €40,000 (£13,000 and £35,000) on his Vinted account.
Just a few months ago, the Louvre museum in Paris suffered a brazen robbery in which jewelery worth €88m (£76m) was taken away.
French media reported that Thomas M served as chief steward; Argentiers – or keeper of precious silver – takes part in the setting of tables for state banquets and other prestigious events.
He is accused of siphoning off the items over several months and falsifying records to cover his tracks.
Items allegedly stolen also included solid silver cutlery and a René Lalique statue.
Inventory maintained by Thomas M. also suggested he planned to steal more goods, prosecutors said.
According to French media TF1 Info, the Elysée Palace has released a recruitment advertisement to find his successor.
Officials at France’s state-owned porcelain factory in Sèvres also authenticated some of their items on an online auction site, including plates and ashtrays bearing the Air Force seal.
Thomas M was arrested on suspicion of theft on Tuesday, December 16, along with his partner Damien G, a collector and manager of an online auction company.
A third man, Ghislain M, was arrested a day later on charges of receiving stolen property. His lawyer said his “passion” for rare antiques was behind his alleged involvement.
He was working as a guard at the Louvre and was barred from returning until the trial was completed, according to Le Parisien, which first reported the case.
The trial is scheduled for February.
