More commentary on the attempt by a team of Beijing-based lawyers to block the sale of two bronze statues looted from the Old Summer Palace (Yuanmingyuan). The group of 67 lawyers has filed suit in a French court in advance of the February 23rd auction of the items. The bronzes are part of a collection formerly owned by the late Yves Saint Laurent.
Some selected opinions from the participants in this drama:
Liu Yang, one of the lawyers on the case:
“We hope they stop the sale and order the owner of the stolen items to return them. These items belong to China and should return to us. Prices of these items have soared beyond the reach of civilians and governments.”
Official statement from Christie’s Auction house:
“For each and every item in this collection there is a clear legal title,” Christie’s said in a statement…We strictly adhere to any and all local and international laws.”
Less inhibited Christie’s employee:
“If we had to give these two pieces free to China, we would have to hand back the [Ancient Egyptian] Obelisk on the Place de La Concorde and numerous paintings in the Louvre.”
Christian Deydier, an Asian art specialist from France who has accused the Chinese of carrying out a publicity stunt:
“These objects were looted by the Chinese themselves as much as the Westerners.”
He Shuzhong, founder of Beijing Cultural Heritage Protection Center, a non-government organization, and an official at the Cultural Heritage Administration on the chances of repatriating items:
“It’s a long, complicated legal process. We could spend our time and energy pursuing these lost relics, with little promise of return, or we could move forward and focus on protecting the treasures we still have.”
The article in the Shanghai Daily also notes:
“The 1995 United Nations Unidroit Convention limits claims on stolen cultural artifacts to within 50 years of their theft.”
It’s a story worth following.
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Quotes from two stories which appeared today in The Times and the Shanghai Daily.
