41 lost cultural relics and works of art returned to China from U.S.

China's National Cultural Heritage Administration received 41 cultural and artistic artifacts returned to China by the Manhattan District Attorney's Office in New York, U.S. at dawn on Tuesday, Beijing time, according to CCTV News.

These artifacts include a bronze money tree with a ceramic base, a plain pottery tripod, a plain lidded bronze vessel, and a pottery figurine of a storyteller, among others. The types of artifacts span pottery, jade, bronze, Buddhist statues, portrait bricks, and Tibetan Buddhist artifacts.

Preliminary image identification and legal analysis by experts indicate that these cultural and artistic artifacts date from the Neolithic period to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), encompassing a rich variety and exquisite craftsmanship, and hold certain historical, artistic, and scientific value. They are identified as Chinese cultural and artistic artifacts that were illegally brought overseas, according to CCTV.

In November 2024, China’s National Cultural Heritage Administration learned through Chinese Consulate General in New York that the Manhattan District Attorney's Office had seized 41 suspected lost Chinese cultural and artistic artifacts during an investigation. Upon receiving this information, the National Cultural Heritage Administration initiated verification and related work, closely collaborating with the Chinese Consulate General in New York, and with the cooperation of U.S. departments, successfully facilitating the return of these artifacts. 

On January 14, 2009, China and the U.S. signed their first intergovernmental memorandum of understanding to prevent the illegal entry of Chinese cultural relics into the U.S., which was subsequently renewed in 2014, 2019, and 2024. Since the signing of the memorandum, the two sides have successfully facilitated the return of 20 batches totaling 594 pieces or sets of lost cultural and artistic artifacts from the U.S. to China.