Chinese man bids $24 million for looted bronze rabbit and rat, refuses to pay out of patriotism
A Chinese man who won a bid for two bronze statues that were looted from Beijing almost 150 years ago says he won’t pay for them as a protest against the sale of stolen Chinese art. Cai Mingchao, who is an advisor to China’s National Treasures Fund, said he had acted out of patriotism and only did what any other Chinese person would do. The statues – one of a rabbit’s head and one of a rat’s head – were sold to Cai at a Paris auction for a bid of $24 million. The Chinese government has denied any involvement.