Four p.m.
The transaction of historical documents and materials has been successfully completed, and Xiao Ran has obtained all the Pelliot and Dunhuang scriptures and some other precious Chinese historical documents and materials as he wished.
The French obtained Robespierre's manuscript diaries, a large number of documents from the Jacobins and the Committee of Public Safety, and other French historical documents.
As Xiao Ran said before, this is a win-win deal, both parties get what they need and everyone is happy.
Next, it’s time to trade other antiques, art, and gold and silver treasures.
This part of the transaction is relatively simple, and the identification speed will be much faster.
However, due to the large volume of transactions, it also takes several hours.
Inside the art gallery.
According to the list made by Xiao Ran, Matthew and the others moved up the antiques, artworks and gold and silver treasures that were to be exchanged to the French one by one, and placed them in the trading area.
The French staff were doing the same thing, moving boxes containing Chinese antiques and artworks into the trading area, filling the floor.
At this time, the French presidential envoy took several French appraisal experts and started on-site inspection with the transaction list.
Their job is relatively simple. They only need to determine whether the quantity of Western antiques and gold and silver treasures exchanged is correct, and whether it matches the list one by one.
As for the authenticity and value of these Western antiques and gold and silver treasures, no one can doubt them anymore.
These items have never left the Musée d'Orsay since they were delivered to them, and are always covered by surveillance cameras.
More importantly, everyone trusted Xiao Ran's vision and were sure that he would never make a mistake.
In this way, there is no question about the authenticity of these Western antiques and gold and silver treasures.
However, Xiao Ran was not in the front hall of the art museum.
Apart from him, Ambassador Lu, Henry and others are also not here.
The square in front of the Musée d'Orsay.
Xiao Ran and Ambassador Lu were standing in front of a huge crate, waiting for the employees of the Guimei Museum to open the box and appreciate and identify the Chinese antiques contained in the box.
Not far behind them, Anthony and the others pulled up a black curtain about seven or eight meters high and over a hundred meters long, blocking the entire square in front of the art museum.
In this way, neither the people in the cars on the street nor the tourists on the other side of the Seine who are visiting the Tuileries Palace or on the river bank can see what is happening in front of the museum.
Naturally, Xiao Ran and the others could not be seen. Even if there were gunmen hidden in the crowd, they would not be able to launch an attack.
There are sniper teams stationed on the roof of the nearby five-star hotel and the Musée d'Orsay, controlling the neighborhood from a high position.
Outside the black curtain.
Anthony led a large number of heavily armed security personnel who were stationed at various locations, watching the surrounding movements vigilantly.
In order to prevent someone from driving into the museum, barriers were set up at the three entrances to the square in front of the museum, and several belt-shaped tire breakers were pulled on the ground.
Not only that, there is a heavy truck parked at each of the three entrances, ready to seal the entrance at any time.
Under layers of protection, the square in front of the Musée d'Orsay and the museum are undoubtedly impregnable.
In the blink of an eye, the large crate shipped from the Guimet Museum had been opened smoothly.
Next, the staff of the Guimet Museum came forward again and took out some polyester foam used to fill the space and cushion.
The next moment, the treasure contained in this crate appeared in front of everyone.
This is a statue of an Arhat with a solemn appearance and bright colors.
To be more precise, this is a nearly perfectly preserved Liao Sancai Arhat statue, one of the treasures of the Jimei Asian Art Museum.
This Liao three-color Arhat statue is huge in size, solemn in appearance, and full of compassion in its expression.
Wearing a cassock, with his hands in meditation seals, he sat on the lotus stone platform, watching everyone present.
The entire sculpture is extremely exquisite, vivid and expressive, giving people a lifelike feeling. Even every fold on the cassock is clearly visible and very natural and smooth.
Standing in front of this statue of Arhat, people may even have the illusion that this Arhat is alive and talking to them.
The moment he saw this Liao Sancai Arhat statue, Xiao Ran's eyes suddenly lit up and became even brighter, filled with joy.
Not only him, but also Ambassador Lu and the Cultural Counselor standing nearby, as well as the appraisal team in the conference room of the National Expo in Beijing.
There are also tens of thousands of fans in Xiao Ran's live broadcast room, and even every Chinese person watching this live broadcast is very excited about it.
The reason why everyone is excited is very simple, because this is a national treasure antique cultural relic.
After being lost overseas for more than a hundred years, this national treasure antique cultural relic has finally fallen into the hands of the Chinese again. It will soon be returned to the country and appear in front of all Chinese people.
From now on, if you want to appreciate this exquisite national treasure-level antique cultural relic, you don't have to go to the Guimet Museum in France, thousands of miles away.
You can see it in Xiao Ran's private museum at the intersection of Wangfujing Street in Beijing.
After admiring it intoxicatedly for a moment, Xiao Ran began to introduce this Liao Sancai Arhat statue.
"The Arhat statue you see now comes from the Liao Dynasty. It is one of the sixteen Arhat statues of the Liao Dynasty. It was originally enshrined in a cave in Yixian County, Hebei Province."
"This is a group of national treasure-level antique cultural relics. It is the best evidence for studying the history and culture of the Liao Dynasty, as well as ceramic art. It is unparalleled in exquisiteness and is the pinnacle of ancient Chinese realism porcelain sculptures."
"At the beginning of the last century, this group of sixteen Arhat statues from the Liao Dynasty suffered a catastrophe. They were either smashed on the spot, looted, and sold overseas."
"In the end, not even one of them was left in China. The nearly ten well-preserved Liao Sancai Arhat statues were all lost overseas and scattered in top foreign museums."
"The three-color Liao Arhat statue in front of me was smuggled out of the country at that time, and it was one of the best statues. It was later sold to the Guimet Museum in France..."
Next, he briefly introduced the past and present life of this Liao Sancai Arhat statue.
Combining the various characteristics it embodies, this article introduces the porcelain-making technology of Liao Sancai and its related historical and cultural background.
At the end of the introduction, he gave the appraisal conclusion of this national treasure antique cultural relic.
"After my appraisal, this Liao Sancai Arhat statue is undoubtedly authentic and a well-deserved national treasure-level antique cultural relic."
"Such a large-scale Liao Sancai Arhat statue is extremely difficult to make, no matter in ancient or modern times, and it is basically impossible to have a fake."
After the words fell, several old men in the National Expo conference room nodded in agreement with excitement.
The appraisal conclusion they reached was no different from the appraisal conclusion given by Xiao Ran.
Everyone agreed that this was indeed one of the Sixteen Arhat Statues of the Liao Dynasty stolen from Yixian County, Hebei Province, and a national treasure-level antique cultural relic.
After reaching an agreement with the domestic appraisal team, Xiao Ran suddenly turned to look at Ambassador Lu.
At the same time, he casually turned off the tiny microphone pinned to his chest.
Then, he whispered:
"Ambassador Lu, this Liao Sancai Arhat statue is too big. It is very troublesome to transport and you have to be extremely careful."
"I plan to temporarily store this national treasure-level antique cultural relic in the embassy, and then transport it back to the country after a transportation plan is worked out."
"In addition to this treasure, I also plan to use this method to treat several other Buddhist statues from Longmen Grottoes and Yungang Grottoes."
Ambassador Lu naturally would not refuse and immediately nodded and said:
"No problem, Xiao Ran, you can rest assured to put these national treasure-level antiques in the embassy."
"We will protect these babies, this is our responsibility!"
Xiao Ran smiled and nodded.
"Okay, Ambassador Lu, I'm causing trouble for everyone!"
