Summer Palace National Treasure Exhibition (Luoyang Station), held by China Poly Group opened in Luoyang from June 13 to 21. The exhibition showcased 4 animal bronze heads and 68 bronze Buddha statues from Summer Palace. Luoyang citizens were able to get the tickets and visit the exhibition for free.
According to the Vice President of China Poly Group, who is also Curator of the Poly Art Museum, the 4 animal bronze heads are parts of a bronze water clock in the Haiyantang in Summer Palace, representing the 12 Chinese figures of the zodiac. The bronze heads were looted in 1860 by the British and French troops and they were shipped overseas.
The Poly Art Museum bids for the cow, tiger and monkey's heads at the price of HK $30 million at Christie's and Sotheby's auctions in 2000. And the pig's head is donated to the Poly Art Museum by Mr. He Hongshen from Macao in 2003.
Most of the 68 Buddha statues, dating back to 18th and 19th century are Tibetan Buddhist statues, with the smallest one is only a few centimeters high and the largest one is a 75 cm tall Guanyin with lotus flower shape hands.
