RED LIST OF

CHINESECULTURALOBJECTSAT RISKR E D L IOSBJTECTS AT RISKURALTLUCESENIOF CHObjective
This Red List has been designed as a tool toassist museums, dealers in art and antiquities,
collectors, and customs and law enforcement
officials in the identification of objects that may
have been looted and illicitly exported fromChina. To facilitate identification, the Red List
illustrates a number of categories of objects
that are at risk of being illicitly traded on theinternational antiquities market.
Objects of the types illustrated hereafter areprotected by Chinese legislation that specificallyprohibits their unauthorised export and sale.
Therefore, ICOM appeals to museums, auction
houses, dealers in art and antiquities, andcollectors not to purchase such objects without
first having checked thoroughly their origin andprovenance documentation.

Stone statue of Buddha, Tang Dynasty, 98 x 28 cm.
© China Relic Information Consultation CentreIntroduction
China’s rich cultural heritage reflects the diversity
and complexity of the cultures that have flourished there for the past ten millennia. Since themid-19th century, large numbers of invaluable
antiquities and other cultural objects have beenstolen, and many of them taken abroad. During
recent decades, in spite of increased efforts madeby the Chinese government to protect China’s
past through the enhancement of national andinternational legislative and other collaborative
efforts, the looting of Chinese sites and the illicit
trade in antiquities for domestic as well as international markets have developed as serious
threats that cause irreparable harm to China’s
unique heritage. It is therefore the responsibilityof everyone – both inside and outside of China – tohelp preserve this heritage for future generations.

Because of the great diversity of Chinese objects,
styles and periods, the Red List of Chinese
Cultural Objects at Risk is not exhaustive, andany antiquity originating from China should be
subjected to detailed scrutiny and precautionary
measures.

The cultural heritage of China is protectedby national and international laws and agreements:
NATIONAL LEGISLATIONINTERNATIONAL INSTRUMENTS

Constitution of the People’s Republic of China, Article 22(4 December 1982)

Conventionfor the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict(The Hague, 14 May 1954)

Criminal Law of the People’s Republic of China,
Articles 151, 264, and 324 to 329 (1 July 1979)
Law of the People’s Republic of China on Protection of Cultural Relics(19 November 1982)

UNESCO Convention
on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit
Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property(Paris, 14 November 1970)

Regulations concerning the Implementation of the Lawof the People’s Republic of China on Protection of Cultural Relics(13 May 2003)

UNIDROIT Convention
on Stolen or Illegally Exported Cultural Objects(Rome, 24 June 1995)

Protection and Management Methods on Hominid and Ancient
Vertebrate Fossils (3 July 2006)
Administrative Measures for the Entry-Exit Examination
and Verification of Cultural Relics (3 July 2007)
Standards for the Entry-Exit Examination and Verificationof Cultural Relics (3 April 2007)
Interim Provisions on the Limitation of the Export of Worksof the Famous Late Painters after 1949, and Interim Provisions
on the Limitation of the Export of Works of the Famous Late
Painters from 1795 to 1949 (15 November 2001)

BILATERAL AGREEMENTS
The Government of the People’s Republic of China has signed
agreements or memorandums of understandingon the prevention of stealing, excavation and illegal traffickingof cultural goods with the following countries:
Australia, Chile, Cyprus, Ethiopia, Greece, India, Italy, Peru, Philippines,Turkey, United States of America, and Venezuela.

If you suspect an item may be the object of illicit trade, please contact:
State Administration of Cultural Heritage

Ministry of Public Security

No. 10, Chaoyangmen North Street
Beijing 100020
People’s Republic of China
Tel: +86 10-59881572
Fax: +86 10-59881573
E-mail: redlist@sach.gov.cnNo. 14, Eastern Chang’an Street
Beijing 100016
People’s Republic of China
Tel: +86 10-66264873
Fax: +86 10-66263113

R E DL I S TO FC H I N E S EC U

THE RED LIST INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES:(The photographs reproduced do not depict stolen objects; they illustrate the categories of cultural objects that are vulnerable to illicit traffic.)
ICOM wishes to thank the following institutions for the illustrations provided: China Cultural Relics Information and Consultation Center, The Palace Museum,
China Numismatic Museum (Beijing), Shaanxi History Museum (Xi’an), Ethnic Costume Museum of the Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology, Jingzhou Museum(Hubei), and the Wudangshan Museum (Hubei). © All photographic rights are reserved by the China Cultural Relics Information and Consultation Center.

Ceramics

From the Neolithic Age (ca. 8000 BC) to 1949 AD

Monochrome, painted, glazed, and tri-coloured pottery; celadon, white, coloured, and blue-and-white porcelain;
the shapes vary from bottles, jars, pots, bowls, dishes, to human figures and animal models. [illus. 1-2-3-4-5]

12543

1. Pottery jar, Neolithic Age, 50 x 18.4 cm.

4. Celadon zun vase, Southern and Northern Dynasties, 79 x 19 cm.

2. Five-colour porcelain covered jar, Ming Dynasty, 32 x 38 cm.

5. Blue-and-white porcelain vase, Ming Dynasty, 45 x 24 cm.

3. Painted earthenware horseman, Tang Dynasty, 32.5 x 32 cm.

Sculpture

From the Neolithic Age (ca. 8000 BC) to 1949 AD

Portraits, figures and models in stone, wood, metal, and brick. [illus. 6-7-8-9]

6789

6. Head of a Buddha statue, Southern and Northern Dynasties, 86 x 56 cm.

8. Painted stone panel depicting a warrior, Five Dynasties, 113.5 x 58 cm.

7. Stone stele of a Buddha and two Bodhisattvas, Six Dynasties, 37.6 cm.

9. Stone statue of a Bodhisattva, Tang Dynasty, 39 cm.

L T U R A L

O B J E C T S

A TMetals (bronze, gold, silver, lead, tin, iron, etc.)

R I S K

From the Xia Dynasty (ca. 2070 BC) to 1949 AD

Bronze: food, wine and water vessels, musical instruments, weapons, chariot and horse hardware,
everyday utensils, and other ornaments. [illus. 10-11-12-13-14-15]111210141315

10. Bronze gui container, Western Zhou Dynasty, 24 x 26 cm.

13. Bronze bell, Spring and Autumn period, 70 x 23 cm.

11. Bronze ding tripod, Western Zhou Dynasty, 46 x 32 cm.

14. Bronze gu vessel, Shang Dynasty, 15 x 10.7 cm.

12. Bronze mirror, Han Dynasty, Ø 18 cm.

15. Bronze jue vessel, Shang Dynasty, 22.8 cm.

Gold and silver: religious or utilitarian objects, and ornaments. [illus. 16-17]
16. Gold plaque, Warring States period, 8 x 13.8 cm.
17. Gilded silver pitcher, Southern Song Dynasty, 23.4 cm.
1617Folk objects

Prior to 1949 AD

Everyday utensils and folk arts, such as New Year pictures, paper-cuts, clay figurines;
also objects such as lamps, locks, tea and food vessels, toys, chess, and cards.
[illus. 18-19]
18. Ivory belt hook (5.8 cm) and tablet (8.2 cm), Sui Dynasty.
19. Leather silhouette puppet, Qing Dynasty, 16 x 8 cm.

18

19

Jade and semi-precious stones

From the Neolithic Age (ca. 8000 BC) to 1949 AD

Ritual tools, burial objects and everyday utensils. [illus. 20-21-22-23-24]

20

21

20. White jade bi disc, Warring States period, Ø 22 cm.
21. Jade “pig dragon” (zhulong), Neolithic Age, Ø 7.2 cm.

22

23
22. White jade ornament, Yuan Dynasty, 4.1 x 7.1 cm.
23. White jade apsara, Song Dynasty, 2.7 x 5.8 cm.
24. Jade cong tube, Neolithic Age, 31.5 x Ø 7.8 cm.

24

R E DL I S TO F

C H I N E S E

Painting and calligraphy

C U
Prior to 1949 AD

Painting and calligraphy including text, portraits, landscapes, birds and flowers. [illus. 25-26-27-28]
25. Painting hand scroll, Ming and Qing Dynasties, 120 x 200 cm.
26. Wall painting from a tomb, Tang Dynasty, 110 x 68 cm.
27. Thangka, Qing Dynasty, 90 x 54 cm.
28. Calligraphy hand scroll, Qing Dynasty, 103 x 63 cm.

2528

2726

Inscriptions

From the Shang Dynasty (1600 BC) to 1949 AD

Ancient characters cast, engraved or impressed on suchmaterials as animal bone, turtle shell, pottery, stone,clay, bamboo, wood, metal, etc. [illus. 29-30-31]
29. Oracle bone, Shang Dynasty, 29.8 x 22.2 x 4.4 cm.
30. Rubbing book, Song Dynasty, 18 x 24 cm.
31. Wooden slip, Han Dynasty, length: 37 cm.
31

30

29Rubbings

From the Tang Dynasty (618 AD) to 1949 AD

Calligraphy or images taken from steles, cliffs,
inscriptions and decorations of vessels; reproducedon paper in black or red ink. [illus. 32-33]
32. Stone stele rubbing, Qing Dynasty, 59 x 52 cm.
33. Rubbing of bronze inscriptions, Ming and Qing Dynasties, 46 x 32 cm.

32

33

Books and documents

From the Zhou Dynasty (1046 BC) to 1949 AD

Inscriptions and decorative patterns written, carved or printed on a wide variety of materials such as bamboo,wood, silk or paper. These include bamboo and wood slips, woodblock-printed books, rare archival documents,letters, maps and handwriting. [illus. 34-35-36]

34

35

36

34. Bamboo slips, Han Dynasty, 2.1 x 23 cm (one slip).
35. Letters, Ming Dynasty, 30 x 41 cm.
36. Handwritten letter from a literatus, Ming Dynasty, 32.5 x 28.5 cm.

22L T U R A L

O B J E C T SA TR I S KArchitectural elements

Prior to 1949 AD

Architectural elements and ornamental objects made of wood,stone, brick, tile, and metal. [illus. 37-38]
37. Glazed decorative element, Ming Dynasty, 85 x 80 cm.
38. Wooden ridge beam decoration, Ming Dynasty, length: 150 cm.

38

37

Lacquer

From the Neolithic Age (ca. 8000 BC) to 1949 AD

Cups, boxes, containers and desks, with wooden or fabric surfaces painted with lacquer. [illus. 39-40]
39. Oval lacquer cup, Western Han Dynasty, 17.5 x 9.2 x 5.4 cm.
40. Painted lacquer container, Western Han Dynasty, 34 x 24 cm.
3940

Numismatics

Prior to 1949 AD

Coins and paper currency, moulds for casting coins. [illus. 41-42-43-44-45]

4143

4245

44

41. Bronze spade-shaped currency, Spring and Autumn period, 5.8 x 2.8 cm.

43. Silver ingot, Southern Song Dynasty, 11.4 x 7 x 4.7 cm.

42. Gilded bronze coin, Tang Dynasty, Ø 2.4 cm.

44. Mould for casting coins, Southern Dynasty, 10.5 x 10.8 x 10.6 cm.
45. Paper currency, Qing Dynasty, 18.9 x 9.4 cm.

Textile and accessories

Prior to 1949 AD

Garments and personal adornments of various ethnic groups. [illus. 46-47-48-49]

46

47
48

46. Embroidered silk robe, Qing Dynasty, 130 x 95 cm.

48. Pendant, Spring and Autumn period, 5.9 x 4.8 x 1.5 cm.

47. Dress of the Miao people, Republican period, 120 x 60 cm.

49. Jade hair ornament, Neolithic Age, 23 cm.

49

ICOM AND THE PROTECTION OF CULTURAL HERITAGE

The International Council of Museums (ICOM), created in 1946 to represent museums and museum
professionals worldwide, is committed to the promotion and protection of natural and cultural heritage,
present and future, tangible and intangible. With a unique network of over 40,000 members in 138 countries
and territories (2018), ICOM is active in a wide range of museum-and heritage-related disciplines.
ICOM maintains formal relations with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization(UNESCO) and has a consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
as an expert in the fight against illicit traffic in cultural goods. ICOM also works in collaboration withorganisations such as INTERPOL and the World Customs Organization (WCO) to carry out some of its
international public service missions.
The protection of heritage in the event of natural disaster or armed conflict is also at the core ofICOM’s work, thanks to its Disaster Risk Management Committee (DRMC) and through its strong
involvement in the international Blue Shield. ICOM has the ability to mobilise expert networks
in the field of cultural heritage from all over the world thanks to its numerous programmes.
In 2013, ICOM created the first International Observatory on Illicit Traffic in Cultural Goods in order toreinforce its action in fighting illicit traffic.
The Red Lists have been designed as practical tools to curb the illegal trade in cultural objects. ICOM
is grateful for the unwavering commitment of the experts and institutions who generously contributeto the success of the Red Lists.

The Red Lists are available at the following address: http://redlist.icom.museum

U.S. Department of State
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
Washington D.C.

22, rue de Palestro - 75002 Paris - FranceTel.: +33 (0)1 47 34 05 00 - Fax: +33 (0)1 43 06 78 62
E-mail: illicit-traffic@icom.museum - Website: http://icom.museum© 2010, ICOM, all rights reserved. - Graphic design: TTT, 4/2011.

This Red List was developed with the generous support of: