Two Imperial Bronze Sculptures Return to China

Sculptures of a rabbit head and a rat head from Beijing's Yuanmingyuan Garden. Provided to China Daily

Two imperial bronze sculptures that were looted from Beijing's Yuanmingyuan Garden were handed over to the National Museum of China during a donation ceremony held on Friday.

The sculptures of a rabbit head and a rat head will be added to the collection at the museum and exhibited soon, Li Xiaojie, director of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage, said at the ceremony.

Vice-Premier Liu Yandong and Francois Pinault, a French collector and businessman who donated the sculptures, unveiled the gifts at the ceremony, and an honorary donation certificate was presented to Pinault by Cai Wu, China's minister of culture.

Francois-Henri Pinault, Francois' son who spoke on behalf of the family at the ceremony, said he expressed the idea of helping the two sculptures return to their home when he met President Xi Jinping in Beijing in April.

He said: "I believe the donation is a testament to the deep friendship between our two countries.

"The two pieces are part of China's history and cultural heritage. We deeply understand that art sometimes has richer symbolic meaning, just like Victor Hugo described in his letter about the garden."

Hugo criticized the looters of Yuanmingyuan, or the Old Summer Palace, in his Expedition de Chine after British and French expeditionary forces invaded the garden in 1860 during the Second Opium War.

"We believe when the two pieces are exhibited in the National Museum, they will tell their own story to audiences from different cultures and inspire them. Then our goal will be realized," Francois-Henri Pinault added.

A notice on the website of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage said on Thursday that both sides had active communication over the matter after the Pinault family made the announcement, and the two pieces were shipped to Beijing on the morning of June 25.

The sculptures were made for the zodiac fountain of Emperor Qianlong's Old Summer Palace, and looted among other precious relics when the palace was destroyed in 1860.

The sculptures made news when their auction by French auction house Christie's in February 2009 aroused controversy worldwide.

The winning bid was more than 31 million euros ($40.3 million), but the deal collapsed when Chinese buyer Cai Mingchao refused to pay.

The Pinault family - the majority shareholder of Kering, whose brands include Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent and Puma - bought the two sculptures after that.

Francois-Henri Pinault, CEO of the company, promised the donation on behalf of the family, which also owns auction house Christie's, in April.

Before the donation of the two pieces, five of the 12 bronze animal fountainheads from the Old Summer Palace had been returned to China through auctions purchases or donations by overseas Chinese collectors.

Li expressed his gratitude and respect on behalf of the cultural heritage department to the Pinault family for their contribution to China's endeavor to protect its heritage.

The returning of the two bronze heads has unusual meaning for both Chinese and French people, Li said.

"The kind move by the Pinault family is a sign of friendship for Chinese people and support for Chinese cultural heritage," Li said.