Macau Casino Mogul Buys Relic Stolen 147 years ago.
First reported By MIN LEE of the Associated Press – 2 days ago
A Macau casino mogul, Mr. Stanley Ho, has paid $8.9 million for a bronze horse head stolen by French troops 147 years ago from China’s imperial palace. His intention is donate it to a Chinese museum as reported by Sotheby’s auction house and a spokeswoman for Ho’s company.
The stolen horse head piece is one of 12 animal heads from the Chinese zodiac that formed part of an elaborate water clock fountain designed by Jesuit missionaries. The 12 heads marked time by spouting water.
The horse head was originally scheduled for auction Oct. 9 by its previous Taiwanese owner, but Ho pre-empted the sale with his offer, Sotheby’s said in a statement issued Thursday.
