Tracking dispersal: auction sales from the Yuanmingyuan loot in Paris in the 1860s

A systematic analysis of Parisian auction sales between 1861 and 1869 reveals the dispersal pathways of artefacts looted from the Yuanmingyuan (Summer Palace) during the Second Opium War. The study, leveraging French auction records and catalogues, identifies key sellers, buyers, and prices, providing unprecedented insights into the market mechanisms and trajectories of these objects in Europe. Despite challenges in tracing dealer sales due to limited archives, this research offers a comprehensive dataset on the provenance and current whereabouts of looted artefacts, contributing significantly to the understanding of cultural heritage loss during conflict.

Howald, C., & Saint-Raymond, L. (2018). Tracking dispersal: auction sales from the Yuanmingyuan loot in Paris in the 1860s. Journal for Art Market Studies, Vol 2, No 2 (2018). https://doi.org/10.23690/JAMS.V2I2.30