Lost-heritage expedition to Western museums

Thursday’s International Herald Tribune (Andrew Jacobs, “Cameras Rolling, China chases its heritage abroad”) writes that an expedition led by a Chinese archaeologist and composed mainly of museum propaganda department employees and journalists, sponsored by a liquor company, has been touring Western museums to take stock (and pictures) of art looted from the Summer Palace. The trip has taken them to New York’s Metropolitan Museum, and will go on to London, Paris, and Japan. But, apparently, no looted art was discovered. The article notes that the widely publicized expedition enjoys broad public support, but has also been criticized by some conservators. For example, Wu Zuolai, an art history professor, is quoted as saying that this “treasure hunting trip is just a political show … spreading hate.”