China's National Museum has unveiled a pair of looted Qing dynasty bronzes donated by the family that runs French luxury-goods conglomerate Kering.
The pieces, unveiled at a ceremony today, are the bronze heads of a rat and rabbit that were among 12 animal heads looted during the sacking of the old Summer Palace in Beijing by French and British troops in 1860 at the close of the Second Opium War.
China has campaigned to recover the bronzes to erase what Beijing sees as a legacy of past bullying by foreign powers.
The pieces were donated by the family of Kering Group CEO Francois-Henri Pinault. The company owns a stable of luxury brands, including Gucci and Saint Laurent, that are thriving in China's booming market.
