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US Returns Seized Ancient Sculpture to China
US Returns Seized Ancient Sculpture to China
A rare marble wall panel stolen from an ancient tomb in Northern China and offered for sale in New York was returned to China by US Customs Service Wednesday, with officials from the United States and China hailing it a result of fruitful cooperation.
"The United States Attorney's Office of the Southern District of New York is very pleased to be part of the efforts to recover and return this beautiful ancient treasure to China," said Deputy US Attorney Shiaah Neiman who attended the return ceremony and press conference at the US Customhouse in New York.
Thanking the US authorities for returning the panel, Chinese Consulate General in New York Zhang Hongxi saw it as "a wonderful example showing how well we can work together to bring this matter to a happy end."
The finely painted marble, weighing over 210 kilograms and measuring 113 centimeters in height and 59 centimeters in width, was one of several panels to adorn the tomb of Wang Chuzhi, the military governor who ruled the region until 921 A.D.
The 10th century panel depicts a fierce warrior clutching his sword, a phoenix on his shoulders and an ox beneath his feet. The lasting color effects of the stone warrior statue and the high-level skills of painting and carving are seen to have significant artistic and historic value.
The object was stolen in 1994 from Wang's tomb in Quyang County of Hebei Province. In March 2000, it was advertised for sale at auction by Christie's in New York on consignment from a Hongkong company at a price of between 400,000 and 500,000 U.S. dollars.
The US Customs agents seized the panel on March 28, 2001, before it went on the auction block. A week earlier, the U.S. Attorney's Office of the Southern District of New York ruled that the ancient relic be repatriated to China.
Both US and Chinese officials made it clear that they are committed to cooperation in banishing the illegal exportation of cultural properties and returning stolen cultural relics.
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