The Qing Dynasty Horse Debate
Should Sotheby’s Sell the Qing Dynasty Horse?
The Qing Dynasty Horse is from a water-clock fountain in Yuanmingyuan. Originally one of 12 zodiac animal statues on the fountain, the horse was stolen from the Chinese by the French and English in 1860.
Now it is in the hands of Sotheby’s who stand to make something along the lines of 80 million by selling it at auction.
The Debate
Image from Bloomberg.com
It comes as no big suprise that the Chinese government want their Qing Dynasty horsie back. A piece of history that was stolen from them and is now being auctioned off to the highest bidder before their very eyes. The Chinese believe that the government should step in and return the property to it’s rightful owner.
Sadly though, the moral highground doesn’t seem to have been reached and Sotheby’s is going through with the auction, because they can. In 1995 The United Nations Unidroit Convention decided that after a 50 year waiting period stolen cultural artifacts can be legally sold.
To add insult to injury, Sotheby’s Asia Chief Executive had this to say, “The sale is a valid commercial transaction…we will go ahead and do what is right and proper.”
The Fate of The Qing Dynasty Horse
The way I see it the horse was stolen, does it matter how long ago that took place? Surely the longer it has been away from home the more it deserves to go back there.
What do you think?
November 12th, 2007 at 4:30 pm
Southeby’s has no more right to sell known stolen merchandise than you or I.
I think it’s outrageous and sad.
November 12th, 2007 at 10:05 pm
Actually according to english.cri.cn tycoon Stanley Ho Hung-sun bought the piece from Sotheby and took it home to China where it belongs.
Believe it or not the horse head was actually designed by an Italian.