For some reason, the Louvre never put a Degas stolen from the Normandy museum where it was stored on an international list of stolen art works. Nonetheless, the work which was stolen in 1973 was discovered at Sotheby’s this week, AFP tells the story:

Sotheby’s removed “Blanchisseuses souffrant des dents” (“Laundry Women with Toothache”) from its impressionist art sale after France alerted the auction house that it belonged to the Louvre Museum in Paris, ministry officials told AFP, confirming information first reported in La Tribune de l’Art website. […] In its auction catalogue Sotheby’s estimated its value at between 350,000 to 450,000 dollars (248,000 to 319,000 euros).

A member of the Havre museum recognised the work as he was rifling through the Sotheby’s catalogue, the ministry official said. […] “We will begin friendly negotiations with the owner who appears to be of good faith via the auction house,” the officials said.

While the painting is on a museum data list in France, it does not feature on Interpol’s list of stolen art.

Stolen Degas Painting Resufaces at Sotheby’s (AFP)