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'Looted' Chinese relic auctioned | 'Looted' Chinese relic auctioned |
(about 11 hours later) | |
A Chinese bidder bought an 18th Century jade imperial seal for 1.68m euros (£1.5m) at a Paris auction house, despite protests by Chinese officials. | |
Beijing said the Qing Dynasty relic was looted by British and French troops from its Summer Palace in 1860. | Beijing said the Qing Dynasty relic was looted by British and French troops from its Summer Palace in 1860. |
The Chinese bidder refused to give his name, but said he was acting on behalf of an art collector in France. | The Chinese bidder refused to give his name, but said he was acting on behalf of an art collector in France. |
The piece sold for more than five times its estimated value after a tense bidding race with another Asian buyer. | The piece sold for more than five times its estimated value after a tense bidding race with another Asian buyer. |
Strong indignation | Strong indignation |
The authorities that manage Beijing's imperial Summer Palace said that all such relics should be returned to China. | The authorities that manage Beijing's imperial Summer Palace said that all such relics should be returned to China. |
They say the seal was originally taken by British and French troops from the palace in October 1860, towards the end of the Second Opium War. | They say the seal was originally taken by British and French troops from the palace in October 1860, towards the end of the Second Opium War. |
China says the bronzes were taken abroad illegally 150 years ago | China says the bronzes were taken abroad illegally 150 years ago |
A statement said: "We once again express strong indignation at this sort of repeated action that hurts the Chinese people's feelings, harms their cultural interests, and violates international pacts." | A statement said: "We once again express strong indignation at this sort of repeated action that hurts the Chinese people's feelings, harms their cultural interests, and violates international pacts." |
The auction house said the seal, mounted with two carved dragons, came from the personal collection of a descendant of a French general who commanded some of the invading troops. | |
The sale comes two months after the contested sale of two bronze animal heads also said to have been looted from the Summer Palace. | The sale comes two months after the contested sale of two bronze animal heads also said to have been looted from the Summer Palace. |
A Chinese collector bought the heads of a rabbit and a rat for 15m euros ($19m; £13m) each, which were part of the collection of late French fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent. | A Chinese collector bought the heads of a rabbit and a rat for 15m euros ($19m; £13m) each, which were part of the collection of late French fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent. |
The buyer then refused to pay, calling his decision an "act of patriotism". | The buyer then refused to pay, calling his decision an "act of patriotism". |
The Chinese government, which had tried to stop the sale, denied any involvement. Christie's said the sale was legal, a position backed by a French court. | The Chinese government, which had tried to stop the sale, denied any involvement. Christie's said the sale was legal, a position backed by a French court. |
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