Several pieces of gold jewelry -- including 12 necklaces and bracelets from Canadian artist Bill Reid's collection -- were stolen from the University of B.C.'s Museum of Anthropology early Saturday.

Also stolen were three ancient Mexican Inca gold and metal necklaces, said UBC spokesman Scott Macrae.

"It's Bill Reid's art. It's pretty much priceless," said Macrae. "For that stuff to go missing it's really a terrible thing."

It's not clear what the value of the museum's losses are, museum officials said.

RCMP confirmed there was a break and enter at the museum but said more information would be released Monday.

The museum was closed all day on Saturday, but will reopen to visitors on Sunday.

"There had to be some damage (to the museum) in order for the items to be removed, to what extent that is I don't know," said Macrae.

The Museum of Anthropology was formed in 1947 from UBC's collections of traditional arts from continents around the world.

In 1976, the collection moved into its current location, a building in Vancouver's Point Grey designed by Arthur Erickson, who took his inspiration from Northwest Coast native architecture.

One of the museum's largest pieces is "The Raven and the First Men," a Bill Reid piece that sits in the rotunda. This was not stolen.

Reid is considered one of Canada's most important artists of the 20th century.

He was trained as a goldsmith and worked in sculpture, carvings, jewellery and painting. His work reflected traditional Northwest Coast native art.

Reid died in 1998.

With files from The Canadian Press