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China Seeks Return of Relics; Dragon Head in Taiwan, Daily Says

China will use “all necessary means” to repatriate the two Qing Dynasty bronze heads that were auctioned last month in Paris, state-run China Daily reported, citing Deputy Culture Minister Ouyang Jian.

Ouyang didn’t specify the measures China would take. Ouyang said the sale has violated international conventions and will affect the development of Christie’s International, which hosted the Paris auction, the English-language daily reported.

The dragon head, from the same clock and arguably the most- prized, might now be in the hands of Taiwanese collector, Hong Kong-based Headline Daily reported, citing Wang Du, an art buyer from the island. Wang declined to identify the collector, whom he said bought the item in 1988 for NT$5 million ($145,106).

The collector had wanted to auction the artifact and might have changed his mind after the furor over the sale of the rabbit and the rat, the report said, citing Wang.

Read entire article at Bloomberg News