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China To Scour Museums for Looted Art

Artifact team will hunt for Imperial Gardens booty

By Mary Papenfuss,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 22, 2009 3:40 AM CDT
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(Newser) – China is about to send teams of artifact hunters to the world's top museums to track down looted art treasures. They'll be on the lookout for art from the splendid Imperial Gardens of Yuan Ming Yuan, more commonly known as the Old Summer Palace, which was used by Chinese emperors in the 18th and 19th centuries. British and French armies sacked the palace complex outside the walls of Beijing in 1860 then picked through what was left in 1900.

Chinese experts believe some 1.5 million relics are housed in more than 2000 museums in 47 nations. Officials hope to recover two works in France, but primarily plan simply to locate and document works. However, "we do hope some previously unknown relics might surface and some might be returned to our country during our investigation," said Chen Mingjie, the director of Yuan Ming Yuan.

France's Louvre museum will be one of hundreds to be trageted by China artifact team.
France's Louvre museum will be one of hundreds to be trageted by China artifact team.   (©mariosp)
China hopes to recover Donnie Darko-like rabbit head and rat in France.
China hopes to recover Donnie Darko-like rabbit head and rat in France.
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 3 comments
Rob
Oct 22, 2009 6:43 AM CDT
The Ancient Egyptians and the modern Egyptians are not the same people. Art belongs to the human race, not a political body, especially one that moved in to another's place then try to claim the previous civilization's accomplishments as their own.
keybored
Oct 22, 2009 2:01 AM CDT
I don't agree that the era of the museum is about over, but I overwhelmingly agree that countries who have been ripped off should get their stuff back. Egypt is a good example and it's good to see them taking a tough stance on this. The Louvre is going to be returning some stuff to them, although the Germans have yet to given in to their demands of returning Queen Nefertiti's bust (which they should). I think the tide began to turn with the Greeks getting part of the Elgen Marbles back. Hope the trend continues.
Timinator2K
Oct 22, 2009 1:55 AM CDT
Well, the era of the museum is about over. Countries who have been plundered SHOULD get their stuff back...like the Greeks who lost the best parts of the Parthenon temple to the English by way of Turkish occupiers who had no qualms about selling Greek antiquities to a rich, then poor, Scottish collector.

 
China • art • museums • British Museum • The Louvre • Metropolitan Museum of Art • looted art • summer palace

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