LIVERPOOL, England—It emerged today that Roman Standard (2005), a four-inch-high bronze sparrow by Tracey Emin, has been missing from its perch at the city's Anglican cathedral, 13 feet off the ground, for two weeks.

Roman Standard is Emin’s first public piece. Though it was commissioned by the BBC for the art05 festival, the news organization claimed through a spokesperson today that it does not have the “duty of care for [the work’s] maintenance or welfare.” This responsibility, it said, lies with Emin’s gallery, White Cube, which has so far declined to comment.

The sparrow motif was a tribute to Liverpool’s famous symbol, the Liver Bird, the artist explained at its unveiling. The work is reportedly valued at £60,000 ($120,000).