In 1901, one the greatest discoveries of Chinese Bronzes occurred in a small Shaanxi village. Over 100 later it is on permanent display at the MET in NYC. This is the story of its journey.
Bronze and metalworks
Chinese archaic bronzes and other metal working
An army of tomb raiders set siege to China’s ancient treasures
It’s perhaps not surprising that grave robbing has a long tradition in China – after all, Chinese civilization stretches back several thousand years. But a 21st century twist is turning this age-old crime into an epidemic. Inspired by get-rich-quick yarns and a series of popular novels, young migrant workers and peasants have teamed up in the thousands through internet chat rooms to loot historic tombs in key provinces.
Chinese art and antiques news round up: Tomb Raiding, Fakes and Art Fraud
A look at some recent Chinese antiques related news ranging from tomb robbing to the main centers for fakes productions to fraud in the Chinese art market
Imperial jade, ivory, bronzes, silks and embroideries – all for sale at rock bottom prices (in 1908 that is) (Sarah Pike Conger Collection)
An absolutely fascinating discussion and article from the New York times in 1908, reporting on the sale of The Conger Collection of oriental antiques, looted during the Boxer Rebellion in China.
Chinese buyer who refused to pay for Chinese looted bronzes weeps as he realizes that his credibility is shot.
Without saying if I agree or disagree, here are two interesting articles which I picked up off the Museum Security Network website (though one was originally from Bloomberg) regarding last years controversial auction of a bronze heads of a rat and a rabbit looted from Beijing’s Summer Palace in 1860 . Interesting perspectives – one […]
Costly mistake, costly fake: Billionaire killed at home while making a fake antique
This from the China Daily / China.org recently: The chairman of a major pharmaceutical company and his employee died in an explosion caused by a “chemical experiment gone wrong” at the businessman’s residential villa. Police found an instruction book of ozonizer as well as fragments of oxygen cylinders on the fourth floor, suggesting a chemical […]