French detectives are investigating the mysterious disappearance of hundreds of valuable works of art and pieces of antique furniture from the Elysée Palace and other presidential residences.

The 700 missing items include bronze sculptures and statuettes, Empire chairs and a Restoration dining table from the 19th century, an 18th-century Régence chair and 17th-century Savonnerie carpets. Investigators are unsure if they have been misplaced, forgotten and left to gather dust in a storeroom, or stolen.

In the past seven years, the Elysée has lodged 81 criminal complaints over the suspected theft of 122 sculptures, paintings or photographs, and 546 pieces of furniture and other objects, believed to be worth tens of thousands of pounds.

A police source said: “There appears to be a shocking degree of carelessness in keeping track of things. These items weren’t taken from an auction house or a private apartment, but from the president’s official residences where security is extremely high. Investigators will be looking at whether they were stolen by staff.”

Paris is notorious for art and jewellery thefts, but the disappearance of so many precious historical and cultural artefacts from official residences is embarrassing for the political establishment.

Earlier this month police said they were investigating the suspected theft of seven works of art from the Elysée, but it has now emerged that many more have vanished.