Controversial artifacts brought from Peking Palace during the Opium Wars, will return to China. The current owner of sculptures by François Pinault said that voluntarily give their China

bronze head of a rabbit. XVIII century
One of the sculptures that Francois Pinault wants to return to China
Source: artdaily . com

owner of the auction house Christie's Francois Pinault promised to return the Chinese bronze heads of a rat and a rabbit, stolen by British and French troops in 1860 during the Opium Wars of the Beijing Imperial Palace Yuanming Yuan . Because of these artifacts, a few years ago at Christie's auction scandal. At the auction 25 February 2009 figures were put out of the collection of Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Berge. The PRC government fiercely protested against the sale, but the auction still held. rat and rabbit brought by 15.7 million euros (prior estimate was 8.10 million) . But the last word is still left for China: not fight the winner of the auction collector Minchao Tsai (Cai Mingchao) refused to pay for the sculpture . His act he called "an act of patriotism." According to Tsai, any Chinese person in his place would have done the same. Berger had to take the job himself. rumored that Berger wants to send a sculpture of the National Palace Museum in Taiwan, but it is so and did not happen .

Afterwards Pierre Berge bronze sculptures bought French billionaire Francois Pinault, who eventually decided to return them to China for free. On his decision, he said at a banquet in Beijing in honor of the visit to China, French President Francois Hollande.

Prepared by Mary Onuchina, AI

Sources : artdaily.com , artinvestment.ru