And he had no theory about what happened to them.
"I have no idea whatsoever." The works belong to the Rick Rudd Foundation, a charitable trust. It was not the first time Rudd's work has been stolen.
In the 1970s a small piece disappeared from a gallery within five minutes of an exhibition opening.
And in 1987 another piece was taken from a gallery while the exhibition was being dismantled.
"This theft was a bit bigger than those, however," Rudd said.
He was "very shocked and surprised" by the thefts and said he knew Sarjeant Gallery staff felt the same way.
He was particularly grateful for the return of a skull jug, one of his favourite pieces, dating from 2008.
"It's a very special piece and I'm glad to have it back. The glaze that I used for it is no longer available.
"It's just unfortunate that it has some damage."
He said he would ask Te Papa staff for their advice on finding the right ceramics repairer.
"An expert should be able to repair these pieces so they look like nothing has happened."
The artworks were part of a Rick Rudd exhibition hosted by the Sarjeant Gallery, called Beyond True To Form. It was a companion to Rudd's first solo show at the Sarjeant in 1996, called True To Form.
Rudd is known internationally for his ceramic work, particularly his quirky teapots, bottles and other containers.