Rare pieces stolen from Chinese museum in France

About 15 rare pieces of art have been stolen from the Chinese Museum of the Chateau de Fontainebleau, southeast of Paris.

They include a crown of the King of Siam, given to French Emperor Napoleon III during the king's visit to France in 1861, and a Chinese chimera in cloisonn�� enamel from the reign of Qianlong (1736-95) during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), the French Culture Ministry said in a statement.

The ministry said the break-in before dawn on Sunday at the museum in Fontainebleau Castle was over in less than seven minutes. The thefts took place in one of the most secure parts of the castle, equipped with alarms and surveillance cameras, the ministry said.