When it comes to animal heads, we must mention Yuanmingyuan. The historical and cultural features of Yuanmingyuan include court etiquette, folk culture, and cultural exchanges between China and the West (the site of Xiyanglou). It was rebuilt by using the landscape of Xishan in Beijing. "Although it is made by people, it is particularly self-opening."
The bronze statue of twelve animal heads in Haiyan Hall of Yuanmingyuan was designed by European missionary Lang Shining (Italian) and made by Qing court craftsmen. Its function is "faucet", and its vivid and accurate modeling comes from western art's emphasis on muscle structure. The introduction of copper casting technology provides new creation possibilities for ancient sculptures in China. The casting of copper is almost lost so far. The historical and scientific value of animal heads for studying the metal casting technology in China in the18th century is self-evident.
Twelve bronze animal heads
Rat head and rabbit head
In 2008 10, 165438, the bronze heads of mice and rabbits appeared in Christie's in new york. On February 25th, 2009, the two animal heads were sold in Christie's in Paris for140,000 euros respectively. The buyer was Cai Mingchao, a collector in China, but he later announced that he refused to pay, on the grounds that the auction was "illegally lost, so he could not declare his entry into Tibet", and the auction was finally cancelled. Four months after the film Zodiac was released at the end of 20 12, then French President Hollande visited China and followed up. Henri Pi Nuo, chairman of French PPR Group, announced that he would donate the bronze statues of French rat heads and rabbit heads lost in Yuanmingyuan to China in 20 13 and 10. After the donation, a return ceremony was held in Beijing, and it is now in the National Museum of China.
Niushou
1985 Charles, an antique dealer in Palm Springs, California, bought three bronze statues of cows, tigers and horses from william blake, a retired policeman, at a price of 1500 dollars each. 1988, Charles's antique shop was in trouble, so he transferred his three animal heads to an English antique dealer. 1June, 989, three animal heads appeared in London, and were photographed by Cai, the founder of Taiwan Province Dwelling House Group, at Sotheby's at 148500. On April 30th, 2000, it was photographed at Christie's in Hong Kong and bought by China Poly Group for HK$ 7.745 million. Now it is in the Poly Art Museum.
Laohutou
On May 2, 2000, Sotheby's in Hong Kong took a spring auction, and Poly Group bought Tiger Head for HK$ 65,438+05,444,800, which is now in the Poly Art Museum.
horse's head
1989, the bronze horse head appeared at Sotheby's auction in London. Cai Chenyang, an entrepreneur from Taiwan Province Province, won the auction at 18 1500, and then transferred it to collectors' weekly collection for about NT$ 100. In September 2007, the news of the auction of horse head in Hong Kong came out, and all walks of life were in uproar. Before the auction on September 20th, Dr. He bought it for HK$ 6.965438 billion and donated it to the country. Now he is in Macau.
hedgehog hydnum
1987, the bronze statue of the monkey head and pig head first appeared at Sotheby's auction in new york. Cai, an entrepreneur from Taiwan Province Province, bought them for $165,000. It is said that they were later transferred to other collectors in Taiwan Province province. On April 30, 2000, Poly Group bought it at the auction price of 8185,000 Hong Kong dollars, and now it is in the Poly Art Museum.
pig's head
1987, the pig's head was bought by a private museum in the United States for 15000 dollars. In 2003, the China Special Foundation for Saving Lost Overseas Cultural Relics visited the United States. After hard work, the American private museum agreed to transfer it to the foundation. In September 2002, He donated more than HK$ 6 million to the Fund, bought back the bronze statue of pig head and donated it to the country. Now it is in the Poly Art Museum.
Longshou
In March 2009, Shenzhen Satellite TV reported that Wang Du, a collector in Taiwan Province Province, revealed in an interview that the missing dragon head was in Taiwan Province Province, and his collector intended to let the dragon head appear in the auction. However, due to the auction of rat head and rabbit hand in 2009, there will be no dragon head in the short term.
Doge's head
From June 5, 2003 to 10, Hong Kong Zhenguan International Auction Company is scheduled to auction the bronze statue of the dog's head, one of the animal heads of the 12 zodiac animals in Yuanmingyuan. However, the dispute between dog and mouse and the sharp criticism from all walks of life in Hong Kong that dirty things can't be auctioned in Hong Kong eventually led to the auction being shelved. According to the American World Journal, on April 27th, 2009, Andy Zheng, a Chinese American, bought a bronze statue of a dog's head at a thrift store for 100. Because the source of the dog's head was ominous, and because Andy Zheng didn't have the financial resources to distinguish the authenticity by modern advanced scientific and technological means, he had to store the bronze statue of the animal's head in the bank safe.
At present, the seven bronze animal heads-rat, ox, rabbit, tiger, horse, monkey and pig-have returned to China through various channels. According to legend, the dragon head is in Taiwan Province Province, and the dog head is no different from the real one. Snake, sheep and chicken are missing. I hope the animal head will return as soon as possible and get together in China.
refer to
Bronze statue of the animal head of the zodiac in Yuanmingyuan: 20 14.07.05
Bronze statue of the zodiac in Yuanmingyuan (an interesting talk about the zodiac) 20 14.0438+0.05
Historical and Cultural Features of Yuanmingyuan and Its Industrialization Value Wang Jingli: 20 15.04.08
Legend of the Rise and Fall of the Bronze Statue of the Animal Head of the Chinese Zodiac: 20 16.06.0438+0
Western charm and sculpture language tendency of bronze animal heads of the zodiac in Yuanmingyuan. Li Zhanyang: 2017.10.15.
Yuanmingyuan faucet and other Zhu: 20 19.02.0438+0
Yuanmingyuan: misunderstanding and historical truth Wang Daocheng: 2020.08.6438+07
Taiwan Province collector: The bronze statue of Yuanmingyuan faucet whose whereabouts are unknown is in Taiwan Province Province. March 2009, 6438+02.
20 13.08.38+0 of the mouse head and rabbit head of Yuanmingyuan in China National Museum.