Chinese man fights for return of 100 million yuan in seized antiques, ancient artefacts
Shanghai authorities took the items 33 years ago alleging the antiques dealer was trading in protected relics. He says they were family heirlooms
A man in Shanghai is in dispute with the city’s public security bureau over the seizure of what he says were family heirlooms worth about 100 million yuan (HK$126 million) 33 years ago, according to a newspaper report.
Antiques collector Yang Shaorong was accused in 1982 of dealing in protected ancient relics and more than 200 pieces were seized from his home, including porcelain, coins, seals and other artefacts. Some dated back as far as the Han dynasty ((206BC-AD220), The Beijing News reported.
Yang said that many of the pieces had been passed down through generations of his family.
After the objects were confiscated in the Jingan district of the city they were transferred to the area’s trade and industry bureau.
A formal case notice was never sent to Yang and the whereabouts of the cultural relics is unknown, the report said.
The trade department, now named the Market Supervision and Management Bureau, said Yang’s case file has been archived and it was no longer handling the matter.