STOCKHOLM (AFP).- Ten sculptures by surrealist artist Salvador Dali were stolen from a Stockholm gallery in a dawn break in on Thursday, the gallery's owner told AFP.

The thieves smashed the glass door of the Couleur gallery in the upscale neighbourhood of Ostermalm in Stockholm and nabbed the sculptures, valued at between 20,000 and 50,000 euros ($22,000 to $55,000) each, before fleeing the scene in a car according to witnesses.

The stolen sculptures include bronze models of the artist's recognisable molten clocks, of which there are about 350 around the world.

They were on loan and came from a Swiss collection.

Peder Enstrom, the owner of the gallery thought there must have been several thieves because of the mess they left behind, adding that "they were probably working together".

Despite the value of the works, Enstrom said the thieves would likely struggle to cash in on their score.

"They didn't get the certificates, which is very good because that will give them some big problems trying to sell the sculptures," he said.


© Agence France-Presse