A painting by Pablo Picasso stolen from a French art gallery has been recovered by US customs after being sent via FedEx as a Christmas present.
La Coiffeuse (The Hairdresser) valued at £1.6 million was reported missing from the Pompidou Centre in Paris in 2001.
The Telegraph reported that US Authorities found the 13 inches by 18 inches picture, owned by the French government, in a FedEx package from Belgium with a description of ‘art/craft/toy’ and a declared value of $37(£24).
It had been addressed to a climate-controlled warehouse in Long Island by someone called ‘Robert’ according to the New York Times.
Loretta Lynch, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, said: ‘A lost treasure has been found.
‘Because of the blatant smuggling in this case, this painting is now subject to forfeiture to the United States.
‘Forfeiture of the painting will extract it from the grasp of the black market in stolen art so that it can be returned to its rightful owner.’
French art experts have examined the piece in New York and have confirmed its authenticity.
There is currently no information on whether anyone has been arrested in connection to the shipment.
According to the Art Loss Register, 1,147 paintings by Picasso are currently reported as stolen.
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