(单词翻译:单击)
导读
圆明园流失文物中，铜兽首可能是最受国人关注的了。尤其是近年来接连的拍卖会，深深刺痛了每一个中国人的心！那么，铜兽首为何会这么受人关注呢？
那些铜兽首之所以如此的挠人，在于它身处位置。它可是座落在大清王朝皇家园林，圆明园“海瀛堂”门前。那其实是个水力钟，按十二个时辰，布置成十二个生肖，每到那个时辰，那个代表时辰的兽首立刻就喷出水来。每到一天的午时（中午12点）12个生肖一齐喷水。钟声共鸣，甚为壮观。
也在于他的制作设计者的特殊身份，那可是深得乾隆皇帝宠爱的西人大画家郎世宁创作设计，又专程送到欧洲量身定做，做好后和人体等大的雕塑共为一体，美妙非常。
更在于他的工艺。来至于古罗马雕塑的写实派和文艺复兴时期的雕塑大师们的精心制作，其功力世人无法超越。你看那些兽首们，哪个不是活灵活现！最重要的是那兽们的神情，只要你长久的对他凝视，你渐渐地觉的他会活起来，似乎马上就要张口鸣叫。你甚至会通过这些冷溲溲的兽首感受些莫明其妙的静穆。
目前，牛首，虎首，猴首，猪首现存北京保利艺术博物馆；马首，何鸿燊拍得捐赠国家；龙首，蛇首，羊首，鸡首，狗首下落不明。
铜兽首历史密闻
1860年，英法联军从大沽口登陆的时候，本来是约好一齐进攻的，问题是手执长枪短刀的五万清室骑兵，在西人枪林弹雨的攻击之下，顿时土崩瓦解！他们纷纷地跑到周边坟地里和树林里躲了起来。
因为英兵是骑兵，推进速度快，法军是步兵，推进慢一些。而且法军似乎更聪明一点，他们有意的和英军拉开了距离，为的是减少伤亡。跑在前面的那些骑兵抓了个中国人，问皇上在哪儿？不知为什么那个中国人没有指紫禁城却向西北指了园明圆。结果英兵直指京城西北角，把个圆明园不废吹灰之力把它给拿了下来！接着他们干了些什么，我不想再说了。烧杀以后，便是抢掠。
英国人专抢真金白银和些看似贵重的物品，而法国人可技高一筹，他们是带着专家去的，不声不响地把那些似乎并不起眼的字画古董等物拿了去。他们把兵营安在北京北郊的黄寺大院里，并在那儿当场的对一些抢来的文物进行拍卖。参加拍卖的是那些红发碧目的文化使者、船员、商人、冒险家和兵痞。随后，大多数物品，他们拉回了欧洲，并在此后不久，将这些物品进行了公开拍卖。这，就是同时期伟大文学家雨果所辛辣叽讽的那场拍卖会。
后来先后浮出水面，并在全世界掀起渲然大波的那些兽首们，他们的身世来头，几乎成了全世界关心这件事的人的共同的话题。也不是因为他们更多地融入了中国人深刻的关爱和浓浓的思念之情。
年轻的圆明园学家刘阳认为：当时英法联军洗劫圆明园的时候，并没有直接证据证明是他们抢走这些铜兽头，理由有三点：一是当时园内陈列之物室内室外数量众多，他们似乎没有必要打烂那些固定建筑上的附属之物将其掠走，其他物品足够他拿的了！二是无论是在中国的当场拍卖还是在外国的公开拍卖、拍卖目录上都没有关于这些兽首的记录。三是根据清室记载，远在英法联军火烧圆明园之前，水力钟已经坏了，在没有修好之前，大内下令把他们都收了起来。圆明园被破的时候，它们不应该老老实实呆在“海瀛堂”，所以刘阳说：“不敢断定这些东西就是当时的英法联军掠走的。”但是他又说：“不管是掠是偷，上至清朝皇帝，下至王公大臣，没有哪一个是收了钱后将其卖出的。因此，尽管铜兽首丢失的线头找不到，但这个线可以一直牵下去，一直牵到现在这个执有人手里。除非他们拿出证据，证明此物完全是合法取得的。”
上世纪九十年代的一个傍晚，一位美国公民在法国散步。无意地往临近路边的一栋私人别墅看了看，他看到有几只铜做的兽首被镶在游泳池边。这几只可爱的兽首在夕阳的映照下发出迷人的光彩。他十分喜欢。这时候殷勤的主人走了过来，看这位不速之客在呆呆地参观自己的泳池，并对这几只铜兽首流露出浓厚的兴趣。
“可以卖给我吗？”他问道。
“当然了。”主人笑着说。
“需要多少钱？”
“我房内浴池里还有一个挂毛巾的牛头，可以一并卖给你。”
三只铜兽头，主人收了他三千五百美金。
於是美国人花了三千五百美金收回这三只流落海外的宝贝儿。当时，回到家里后，美国人的妻子还和他吵了一架，认为他们实在不值那么多钱！
当时，无论买家和卖家，他们谁也不知道这三只貌似普通的铜做工艺品的真正身世，和他们的高贵血统。他们默默无闻呆在普通的人家，任凭人家在自己的头上挂着毛巾或者是臭袜子。
此后，又流转了多少人手？悲惨的兽首们也不知先后归属于几个主人？总之，感谢上帝，他们对他们似乎还不错，假如遇到一个倒霉的家伙，打碎了拿到废品站里换酒吃。这也保不住的，那可真是造了孽了！
后来，终于有人发现了它们的身世！这乃是上世纪中华帝国的皇家之物，于是他们的顿时身价百倍。待遇的规格都异乎寻常。甚至于他们开始有了自己的警卫和保姆。
以后，九十年代纽约的一次拍卖会上，还是那个叫寒舍的鉴赏家说动了**同胞，花了百万美金将他们拍买回来。于是，这些铜兽首们结束了多年的流浪，第一次回到中国的国土和中国人手里。
事件过程
2008年10月23日－－国际艺术品拍卖巨头佳士得公司宣布将于明年2月23日至25日在法国巴黎大皇宫举办“伊夫·圣罗兰与皮埃尔·贝杰珍藏”专场拍卖，拍品中包括1860年英法联军自圆明园掠走、流失海外辗转多年的鼠首和兔首铜像，两件拍品拍卖估价均为800万至1000万欧元，总价高达人民币2亿元。
各方反应:
国家文物局:反对回购被掠夺文物
国家文物局博物馆司司长宋新潮表示，国家文物局的态度与之前一样，反对回购。既然是中国的东西，就没有必要用中国的钱买回来。这两件文物都是由于战争原因被掠夺到海外的文物，根据国际公约，要在道义上进行呼吁和追溯，希望其返还。对于追回方式，首先不希望通过拍卖，其次要尊重收藏家意愿，通过相应的补偿以回赠方式追回，同时也欢迎和鼓励通过捐赠的方式，促成回归。
抢救流失文物基金:圆明园不能当商标
中华抢救流失海外文物专项基金副总干事牛宪锋表示，圆明园兽首铜像是历史上中国文物流失的见证，一方面我们尊重拍卖公司的商业规则和收藏市场的运作机制，尤其是此次拍卖将用于公益目的，无可厚非；另一方面，拍卖战争劫掠的文物，于情于理都不能接受。“圆明园”绝对不能变成一个商标，导致流失文物的拍卖成为普遍认可的商业惯例。该基金将积极与拍卖方沟通，寻求双方都认可的合作方式，力争有一个皆大欢喜的结局。
至于是否会请何鸿燊博士再度“出山”，牛宪锋说，“不要给何先生太大压力嘛！”他表示，基金不排除这个方式。
佳士得:正与合作方在商讨
针对中华抢救流失海外文物专项基金和国家文物局对鼠首和兔首铜像即将拍卖的态度，佳士得表示，目前正在与合作的拍卖行进行协商，预计在近日会有结果。
圆明园:不主张文物进入拍卖
圆明园管理处新闻发言人宗天亮昨天表示，圆明园一直不主张文物进入拍卖。一是文物拍卖价格虚高，像这次的价格高达2亿元，不是一般机构或个人能承受得起的。另一方面，圆明园的历史文物有着它本身的文化内涵，一旦被当作“挣钱的机器”进入拍卖程序，则文物本身所承载的历史文化内涵将被淡化。“但是文物流失海外多年，一些机构在海外进行拍卖，圆明园管理处也无法阻止，还是希望文物能回归祖国。”宗天亮说。
2009年01月18日－－来自中国内地的六十七名律师，组成了公益诉讼团，准备在法国对这两件中国文物的收藏者和佳士得拍卖行提出诉讼，阻止拍卖、追索国宝。
法国拍卖鼠首和兔首传出后，立即引起中国民众的愤怒。由六十七名中国律师组成的律师团在北京召开记者会，律师团首席律师刘洋表示，得到拍卖消息后，他通过网志希望律师组团起诉，向法国追索国宝，至今已有六十七名律师加入。
中法两国都加入了《国际统一私法协会关于被盗或者非法出口文物的公约》，该公约有规定，被盗文物的拥有者应该归还该被盗物，并且没有时间限制。
律师团已起草了起诉书，被告是两文物的收藏者皮埃尔‧贝杰等人和佳士得拍卖公司。不过根据法国法律规定，原告需要与事实有厉害关系，律师团需要中国相关部门出面做原告，律师团则提供法律援助。据知北京圆明园管理处很可能作为政府代表参与诉讼。
据悉，律师团搜集了世界上五次类似的案例，其中四起胜诉，只有一起败诉。
2009年02月12日－－中国外交部发言人姜瑜2月12日举行例行记者会，就巴基斯坦总统访华、津巴布韦新政府就职、涉藏问题等回答了记者提问。应中国政府邀请，巴基斯坦伊斯兰共和国总统阿西夫•阿里•扎尔达里将于2月20日至23日访问湖北、上海。
2009年02月17日－－圆明园管理处明确表态，完全认同近日外交部新闻发言人和国家文物局相关负责人对此做出的答复，对于历史上被掠夺到海外的文物，“中国对其拥有不可质疑的所有权，这些文物理应归还中国”，而且“明确反对采取购买的方式来促成文物的回归”。
作为圆明园遗址公园的行政管理部门，管理处一直以来都遵循着《圆明园遗址公园规划》对遗址行使保护管理职能。圆明园流失海外的诸多文物（包括兽首在内），大多是第二次鸦片战争中被英法联军劫掠，并流失多年的中国珍贵文物，中国对其拥有不可质疑的所有权。这些文物理应归还中国，回到它的原生地。
2009年02月20日－－经过多方努力，律师团已于19日晚将阻止拍卖的“禁止令”递交法国方面，等待法国当地法院的最后裁决。在律师团看来，“禁止令”申请通过是最好的结果。“如果不行，我们就要去参加拍卖会，根据现场情况决定采取相应行动，”刘洋说。
2009年02月21日－－海外追索圆明园流失文物律师团的首席律师刘洋，单枪匹马地登上赴法的班机。他此行的首要目的，是阻止圆明园鼠首和兔首铜像在法国拍卖，最终目的，让两件国宝顺利回归祖国。截至目前，海外追索圆明园流失文物律师团的成员已经增加至88人。
2009年02月24日－－法国巴黎法院北京时间24日凌晨1时左右对圆明园鼠兔首能否被拍卖作出宣判，法官认为，请求人——欧洲保护中华艺术联合会对于本案没有直接请求权，驳回其关于要求停止拍卖、禁止拍卖的诉讼请求，并赔偿两个被告方各一千欧元。
由于中国追索海外流失文物律师团此前提出申请，希望法国法院在拍卖开始前，能下达“禁拍令”。巴黎一家法院于当地时间23日中午11时30分开始紧急审理禁止拍卖的请求。
事件结果
法国佳士得拍卖行二十五日晚间在巴黎拍卖中国圆明园流失文物鼠首和兔首铜像，两个兽首分别以一千四百万欧元的价格被一电话买家买走。听写系统使用教程新闻词汇天天学恋爱英语必杀句
佳士得拍卖行将两件铜像的起拍价分别定为八百万至一千万欧元，总价约为二亿元人民币。不过因为目前仍不清楚买家的身份，在买家实际付款前，也不确定交易是否成功，因此律师团将继续关注事态发展，待事态明朗后再进一步采取法律行动。
中华抢救流失海外文物专项基金副总干事牛宪峰3月2日在于北京召开的新闻发布会上说，中华抢救流失海外文物专项基金收藏顾问蔡铭超参与了圆明园兔、鼠首在法国巴黎的拍卖，并成为了最后竞拍者。
CRI英文报道
中国抗议法国拍卖圆明园兽首文物
China's cultural heritage authority has opposed the auction this month of two Chinese relics looted from the Beijing Imperial Summer Palace almost 150 years ago.
The two artefacts, a Qing Dynasty bronze rabbit head and a bronze rat head, will be auctioned by Christie's in Paris from Feb. 23 to 25 and are expected to fetch between 10 and 13 million dollars each.
The two sculptures were originally housed in Yuanmingyuan, Beijing's Imperial Summer Palace. They were stolen when the palace was burnt down by Anglo-French allied forces during the Second Opium War in 1860.
They currently belong to the Pierre Berge-Yves Saint Laurent Foundation and were put up for auction by Pierre Berge.
Zhang Jianxin, deputy director of the museum department with the State Administration of Cultural Heritage, says the Christie's auction is unacceptable and China should not be asked to buy them back.
"For the stolen relics, China definitely opposes purchasing them back by spending taxpayer money."
The official also warned business people might exploit the patriotic concerns of the Chinese to raise bidding prices for their own gain.
In the meantime , a team of 81 Chinese lawyers has written to Christie's and Pierre Berge in an effort to stop the sale and return the relics to China.
The lawyers plan to sue Pierre Berge if there is no "positive feedback within a reasonable period".
China and France signed the 1995 Unidroit Convention on Stolen or Illegally Exported Cultural Objects, which stipulated that any cultural object looted or lost because of reasons of war should be returned without any limitation on time span.
跟可可听CRI报道http://www.kekenet.com/Article/63729.shtml
路透社英文报道
中方正式要求停止兽首铜像拍卖
The Chinese government formally demanded cancellation of the auction in Paris of two historic bronze sculptures claimed by China, after a previous effort by a cultural group was rejected by a French court.
The sculptures, of a rat and a rabbit head, are part of an art collection from the estate of French fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent, which went on sale at a Christie's auction that started in Paris on Monday.
China claims ownership of the heads that were taken from Beijing's Summer Palace when it was razed by invading French and British forces in 1860 during the Second Opium War.
"The State Administration of Cultural Heritage has formally informed the auctioneer of our strong opposition to the auction, and clearly demanded its cancellation," Ma Zhaoxu, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, told a news conference.
APACE, an association representing Chinese cultural and heritage interests, had filed an appeal to have the sale blocked but was turned down by the Tribunal de Grande Instance in Paris.
Ma scorned an offer by Pierre Berge, Saint Laurent's former business manager and companion, to exchange the sculptures for promises to guarantee human rights and allow exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, back into Tibet.
"Using the pretext of human rights to infringe on the Chinese people's fundamental cultural rights is just ridiculous," Ma said.
Interest in the case goes beyond the art world because of the tensions between Paris and Beijing over French President Nicolas Sarkozy's decision to meet the Dalai Lama, whom Beijing considers a separatist .
China's State Administration of Cultural Heritage also directly condemned the auction, saying any such sale was "in contravention of the basic spirit of the relevant international treaties."
An Administration official also told the web site of the People's Daily (www.people.com.cn) newspaper of the ruling Communist Party, that the auction "would seriously harm the cultural rights and national feeling of the Chinese people."
Christie's values the sculptures at 8 to 10 million euros each. Five of the original 12 heads are now in China.
法国相关报道
法国驳回禁拍圆明园兽首拍卖要求
A Paris court ruled against stopping the sale of two looted Chinese bronze sculptures which come up for auction at Christie's on Wednesday.
Under the ruling of the Tribunal de Grande Instance in Paris, the plaintiff, the Association for the Protection of Chinese Art in Europe (APACE), was ordered to pay compensation to the defendant .
Ren Xiaohong, a lawyer for APACE, told Xinhua that it was "of great significance" to file the lawsuit.
"We hope to arouse public attention in Europe on the fate of numerous Chinese works stolen in the past, to help keep those relics well protected and collected," Ren said.
The Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) relics, the heads of a bronze rabbit and a rat, were among an original set of 12 bronze animal heads that once adorned the imperial summer resort Yuanmingyuan. They were looted when the palace was burnt down by Anglo-French allied forces during the Second Opium War in 1860.
The pair became part of a collection of the late fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent. They have been put up for auction by his partner, Pierre Berge.
The two items are expected to fetch between 16 million and 20 million euros (20.8 million to 26 million U.S. dollars).
So far, five of the 12 bronze animal heads have been returned to China, while the whereabouts of five others are unknown.
澳广播报道
兽首遭拍卖，中法感情受伤害
MCCARTHY: The sculptures of a rat and a rabbit head are one of 12 bronze heads that were plundered by French and British forces as they razed Beijing's Summer Palace in 1860 during the Second Opium War.
The looting and destruction of the Summer Palace, also known as the Garden of Perfect Brightness, has been seared into the Chinese consciousness:
BARME: There's been contention over it, but it's only really in the last 20 years or so that the Garden of Perfect Brightness has become an official state icon of humiliation, of the punishment visited on China because of its weak and supine rulers and its incompetent and decaying political rule.
MCCARTHY: Geremie Barme is a professor of Chinese history at the Australian National University.
BARME: The government has made the iconic elements of the Garden of Perfect Brightness, broken pillars and buildings to be the visual symbols of Chinese humiliation and of also of Chinese national pride.
MCCARTHY: And now two of those visual symbols have landed on Christie's auction block in Paris ... as part of the art collection of the late French fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent.
Christie's values the sculptures at up to 10 million euro each ... and says there are no legal grounds to bar the sale.
Yves Saint Laurent's partner, Pierre Berge, is prepared to hand over the sculptures to Beijing ... but his offer comes at a price.
BERGE: The only thing I ask the Chinese people and the Chinese government is to address the human rights, to give liberty Tibetan people and to welcome the Dalai Lama, that's all.
MCCARTHY: It's an offer that was dismissed by China's foreign ministry as ridiculous ... a response that came as no surprise to Geremie Barme.
BARME: I'm afraid it was a very, one might sympathise with this type of request of the Chinese authorities, but one could only say in this case it would compound without doubt the humiliation and ire of the Chinese authorities. That would mean that the Chinese government today would react vociferously to any suggestion that these looted goods could be returned in trade for some deal related to Chinese human rights or to the Dalai Lama situation. No matter how one personally may view such things the Chinese authorities not surprisingly are infuriated by such a suggestion.
MCCARTHY: The dispute also takes place against a backdrop of strained diplomatic ties between China and France.
Many Chinese remain deeply angry over the treatment of a disabled Chinese torch bearer during the Olympic relay last year ... and French president Nicholas Sarkozy's meeting with the Dalai Lama just a few months ago.
MACKERRAS: Whether it's going to lead to another diplomatic crisis I mean we'll have to wait and see.
MCCARTHY: Colin Mackerras is Professor Emeritus in Asian studies at Griffith University.
He says most Chinese would see little distinction between the French government ... and the French court that rejected an appeal to ban the auction.
For many in China, it's another wound inflicted by the West ... and another reason for the government's defiant stance.
MACKERRAS: China as a rising power you might think well let's get over those humiliations. But then as a rising power you can also think well we're not going to take this anymore you know, we've had the west looking down on us all the time and saying you're doing the wrong thing and get over it and that sort of thing, and we're not going to take it any more.
拍卖英文报道
Two controversial ancient Chinese relics were auctioned off on Wednesday night for 14 million euros (17.92 million U.S. dollars) each by anonymous telephone bidders in Christie's sale of the collection of Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Berge in the Grand Palace of Paris.
According to Christie's, they have received 8 phone calls for "enquiries" before the sale. After the auction was launched, the competition was only conducted between telephone bidders, with no one in the scene raised for a bid.Christie's refused to disclose who were the bidders at a press conference afterward.
The bronze sculptures, a rat's head and a rabbit's head, were looted by invading Anglo-French expedition army in the 19th century, when the invaders burned down the royal garden of Yuanmingyuan in Beijing.
Li Huan, a Chinese student in France told Xinhua that the two bronzes are news for the French, but history for the Chinese. Earlier this night, some Chinese students in France voluntarily went to the Grand Palace, distributing sheets introducing the history of Yuanmingyuan and the Second Opium War in 1860.
双语报道
Chinese bidder of looted sculptures refuses to pay
A Chinese man who successfully bid for two looted bronze sculptures auctioned in Paris last week says his winning bid will not be paid.
Cai Mingchao, a collection advisor of National Treasure Funds of China (NTFC), bid 31.49 million euros (39.63 million U.S. dollars) by telephone during the auction at Christie's on Feb. 25,Niu Xianfeng, deputy director of the fund, said at a brief press conference Monday.
"What I want to stress is that this money cannot be paid," Cai said at the press conference.
An unnamed officer with NTFC said Cai successfully registered as an individual bidder on the day of the auction at Christie's because of his good reputation. Usually, bidders are required to register several days before an auction.
"Every Chinese would have liked to do like this at that moment, and I'm honored to have the chance to make the bid," he said.
NTFC was established in 2002 under the administration of China Foundation for the Development of Social Culture registered under the name of the Ministry of Culture for the purpose of repatriating looted Chinese artifacts.
A Xinhua reporter asked if he registered at the auction as a representative of the fund, but Cai only answered, "I did this on behalf of all Chinese people."
"The fund faces great pressure and risks by bidding for the two sculptures, but this is an extraordinary method taken in an extraordinary situation, which successfully stopped the auction," Niu said.
Earlier media reports said the 18th Century bronze heads of a rat and a rabbit were sold for 28 million euros as part of an auction of art works owned by the late French designer Yves Saint Laurent.
China has repeatedly demanded the return of the sculptures looted when the Old Summer Palace (Yuanmingyuan) was burned down by Anglo-French allied forces during the Second Opium War in 1860.However, Christie's held the auction after a court in Paris turned down a motion by Chinese lawyers to stop the auction.
So far, five of the 12 bronze animal heads have been returned, while the whereabouts of five others are unknown.
Wang Qing, spokesman of a group of almost 90 lawyers who have been trying to boycott the auction by legal means, told Xinhua that they were excited to hear the news.
"We admire Cai's action, which demonstrated the power of Chinese people," Wang said. He said Cai was a patriot, who had spent a lot of money in repatriating Chinese cultural relics. He was forced to do this in an effort to stop the auction.
Cai, a native of Fujian, also runs a cultural company in Xiamen city in the province. He bought a bronze buddha statue at a sotheby's auction for 116 million Hong Kong dollars (14.95 million U.S. dollars) in 2006, and brought the rare treasure back to China.
Wang said Cai's action would help the lawyers pursue further legal actions.
Gan Xuejun, general manager of Beijing Huachen Auctions Co. Ltd., said Cai's method of foiling the auction was improper and he sacrificed his reputation as a well-known antiques collector.
"I'm very surprised. Cai's reputation and future career could be ruined. Cai made the choice in an urgent situation for the country, but I personally do not support such behavior," Gan told Xinhua.
"As an experienced artifacts collector and advisor, Cai fully understood all possible consequences and he chose to do what he did after careful consideration," the NTFC officer said.
In China, bidders must pay a deposit before attending an auction. However, a deposit was unnecessary outside China and auctioneers usually accept reliable bidders, said Gan.
Gillian Leung, a public relations manager with Christie's Hong Kong office, said the company was investigating the case, but no official statement was available.
Shan Jing, chief representative of Christie's Beijing office, said usually such a case would be submitted to the company's legal affairs department, and its lawyers would decide on further action.
Gan said Christie's may take legal action to pursue payment from Cai.
中国藏家蔡铭超拍下兽首 但表示不会付款
3月2日上午10时30分，中华抢救海外文物专项基金在北京丰联广场丰联会馆召开新闻通报会，公布了佳士得拍卖的圆明园鼠首和兔首的中标者情况。据介绍，中标者为来自厦门的蔡铭超。
中华抢救海外文物专项基金副总干事牛宪锋主持了会议。他宣布，北京时间上个月26日在巴黎佳士得拍卖会上拍得圆明园鼠首和兔首的是“一位令人钦佩的中国人”：中华抢救海外文物专项基金-国宝工程收藏顾问蔡铭超先生。
蔡铭超也出席了新闻通报会。他说，“当时我想，每一位中国人在那个时刻都会站出来的，只不过是给了我这个机会，我也只是尽了自己的责任。但我要强调的是，这个款不能付。”
牛宪锋透露，拍卖会当天，蔡铭超做了一个委托，当时的本意是看一下拍卖现场的情况。如果撤拍或流拍，我们就不参与了；如果是进入了正常的拍卖程序，我们就会进一步关注。在现场拍卖师报价900万、1000万、1100万欧元的情况下，我们参与了竞拍，最终这两件鼠首兔首铜像以总共3149万欧元落槌。但蔡铭超已经强调，这款不能付。
“现实已经逼迫我们不得不面对一个相对无奈的局面，”牛宪峰说，“我们必须采取强有力的有效手段来阻断流失文物的拍卖，在力所能及的范围内履行我们坚决反对拍卖的主张。”
据介绍，圆明园鼠首兔首铜像拍卖一事，中华抢救海外文物专项基金此前一直密切关注并明确表态。2009年2月26日，鼠首兔首铜像的拍卖已经落槌，拍卖现场举牌人背后的委托人究竟是谁？近几天来，新闻媒体和社会各界有多种猜测，如今水落石出。
