A family could be on the hook for more than $170,000 after their child accidentally knocked over a valuable sculpture that was on display at a US community centre.

Surveillance video showed the five-year-old hugging the mosaic sculpture at a community centre in Overland Park, Kansas, before it fell on him and tumbled to the floor.

The accident happened last month, but the family received a letter from an insurance company this week seeking damages for the artwork, which was reportedly valued at $US132,000 ($177,000).

"It's clear accidents happen and this was an accident," the boy's mother, Sarah Goodman, told the Kansas City Star.

"I don't want to diminish the value of their art. But I can't pay for that."

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The family was at the community centre for a wedding reception, and were reportedly saying goodbye to the father of the bride when the incident happened.

The insurance company said the family's "failure to monitor [the child] during this loss could be considered negligent", but Ms Goodman said the valuable sculpture should have been better protected.

"It's in the main walkway," she told local media.

"Not a separate room, not plexiglas, not protected, not held down.

"No one would ever to expect that to come into a place that kids are invited and have to worry about a $US132,000 piece of art falling on their child."

Bill Lyons, the artist who created the sculpture, told ABC News America it could not be repaired.

A spokesman for Overland Park City said the city filed a claim with their insurance company, which then contacted the Goodman family.

"It will be up to the insurance companies to get this worked out," he said.