China condemns Christie´s sculpture sale, warns of "serious effects"

Source: Xinhua | 02-26-2009 13:36

BEIJING, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- Following an auction Wednesday in Paris by Christie's of two bronze sculptures taken from the Summer Palace in 1860, China's State Administration of Cultural Heritage (SACH) issued a statement here Thursday condemning the action and saying it would have "serious effects" on Christie's development in China."

The bronze sculpture of a rabbit's head, which is an ancient  Chinese relic, is auctioned in the Grand Palace of Paris in  Paris, France, Feb. 25, 2009. Two controversial ancient  Chinese relics including the bronze sculptures of a rat's  head and a rabbit's head, were auctioned off on Wednesday  night for 14 million euros each by anonymous telephone bidders  in Christies's sale of the collection of Yves Saint Laurant  and Pierre Berge in Paris. The sculptures were looted by  invading Anglo-French expedition army in the 19th century,  when the invaders burned down the royal garden of Yuanmingyuan  in Beijing.(Xinhua/Zhang Yuwei)

The administration said in the statement that China did not acknowledge what it called the illegal possession of the two sculptures and would "continue to seek the return of the sculptures by all means in accord with related international conventions and Chinese laws."

According to the statement, SACH officials sought repeatedly to halt the sale. However, it said, Christie's proceeded with the auction, violating international conventions and the "common understanding" that such artifacts should be returned to their country of origin.

It said the auction "damaged Chinese citizens' cultural rights and feelings and will have serious effects on Christie's development in China."

It didn't specify what actions China might take.

Editor:Zhang Ning