Cologne’s renowned Museum for East Asian Art has faced a major blow with the recent theft of nine ancient Chinese porcelain artifacts, collectively valued at over 1 million euros ($1.073 million). Established as one of the earliest museums dedicated to Eastern Asian cultural relics in Europe, its collections are an amalgamation of invaluable treasures spanning across regions like China, Korea, and Japan.
The pilfered artifacts predominantly comprise Chinese porcelain pieces—vases, bowls, and plates—crafted during the illustrious Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. Noteworthy among the stolen items, based on an image allegedly showcasing the list of stolen pieces, are three porcelain vases originating from the Qianlong era. Known for their intricate craftsmanship, these were fashioned in the historic Jingdezhen, often termed as China’s porcelain capital. Located in East China’s Jiangxi Province, Jingdezhen has a thousand-year legacy of producing some of China’s finest porcelain artifacts, especially during the Qing dynasty‘s reign.
Li Qiuzhu, an authority on Qing Dynasty relics, expressed her despair over the theft. “The sheer thought that any of these vases might be destroyed is heart-wrenching. Some could potentially be the last of their kind on the planet.” Li further emphasized the broader implications of such thefts, hinting at the potential for illegal activities like counterfeiting.
According to the museum’s account, the theft was executed by two individuals who broke in during the night, forcibly prying open a window to access the museum’s displays. The incident came to light following a significant disturbance detected by the museum staff.
The museum’s director, Shao-Lan Hertel, conveyed her shock and horror to the press, stating, “I’m utterly speechless. The magnitude of this incident hasn’t fully sunk in yet.”
Amid the reactions, Yao Yu, a prominent Chinese cultural expert, criticized the museum’s seemingly lax security measures, particularly given its stature as one of the most esteemed institutions of its kind in Europe. Yao added that such incidents erode trust in Western museums’ ability to safeguard foreign artifacts, reigniting debates about repatriation.
This sentiment was mirrored by a considerable portion of the public, particularly on Sina Weibo, a popular Chinese social media platform. The topic quickly gained traction, amassing close to 40 million views. While many voiced their disillusionment with European institutions, others speculated on the motives behind the theft.
Drawing parallels to a recent incident at the British Museum, where over 2,000 artifacts were reportedly stolen, a user commented on the potential of these incidents being covers for Western museums’ reluctance to repatriate artifacts.
Yao expressed that the incident would likely intensify scrutiny on Western museums and their practices, amplifying the calls for repatriation.
READ MORE: