So finally, we have a resolution to the international dispute over two Chinese bronze heads that sold last week as part of Yves Saint Laurent’s estate sale. The statues, that Beijing claims were looted from China nearly 150 years ago by foreign aggressors, were sold to a Chinese bidder Cai Mingchao, who paid $40 million for the two pieces. And then, uh, he refused to to pay. Not that he couldn’t afford the pieces, but rather he made a political statement on behalf of his country, that the stolen goods should be returned to China. Cai told the press, “We have stood up and thankfully I was given this opportunity, which I felt was my responsibility. And what I want to stress, is I will not pay for this bid.” What some art dealers are worried about, Bloomberg reported Tuesday, is that this episode will make the items tainted, as future bidders will fear legal action by the Chinese government and thus, the price of the art will be completely driven down. What this episode also taints is the reputation of the Chinese when it comes to Western art sales. Will Christie’s have to worry about this happening every time a Chinese relic goes under the hammer anywhere but China? It’s worth pointing out that the two pieces, a rabbit head and a rat head, were designed by a non-Chinese Jesuit missionary and have been part of a Western collection for over a century. As one art dealer asked, “Should every painting that Rembrandt made be returned to Holland?”

Al-Jazeera has a good video on the scandal:

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