TORONTO -- Five palm-sized ivory sculptures worth $1.5 million were stolen from the Art Gallery of Ontario during the weekend. The pieces, created and signed by renowned ivory portraitist David Le Marchand and dating back to the early 18th century, were discovered missing from a display at the gallery Saturday afternoon.

They were among the highlights of a sculpture collection on loan to the gallery from media mogul and art collector Ken Thompson.

Among the items stolen were detailed relief portraits of Sir Isaac Newton and one of Christopher Wren, Jr.