The stolen Chinese chimera in cloisonn enamel from the reign of Qianlong (1736-95). (Photo/Chinanews.com)
(ECNS) - The Beijing Enamel Factory is stepping up efforts to make a cloisonné enamel replica of a Chinese chimera, which recently went missing from a museum in France, the Chinese-language newspaper Beijing Times reported on Wednesday.
French cultural authorities said about 15 rare pieces of art were stolen on the morning of March 1 from the Chinese Museum of the Chateau de Fontainebleau, southeast of Paris, including the Chinese chimera from Beijing's Yuanmingyuan (Old Summer Palace).
Miao Yongsheng, an executive with the Beijing Enamel Factory, said the factory began working to make a replica based on pictures and historic data the day after the theft. Due to complicated procedures the piece will not be finished until the end of the year, and will then be exhibited at the factory, Miao said.
The Beijing factory is also working on the second phase of a Chinese cloisonné enamel art museum. The exhibition is expected to open in July free of charge, Miao said.
A seminar on the development of China's cloisonné art industry was held at the factory on Tuesday morning.
