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上星期，一名神秘买家在巴黎佳士得拍卖会上以高价拍下两尊流失海外的中国兽首。这位神秘买家的身份在周一终于揭晓，这位充满爱国情结的文物收藏者想要阻止这场交易。
The mystery bidder for the two looted Chinese bronze relics sold at Christie's high profile auction in Paris last week revealed his identity Monday: A patriotic collector who wanted to thwart the sale.
今年44岁的蔡铭超在北京召开的新闻发布会上表示他不会对拍品付款。在拍卖会上的竞标主要是为了保护流失海外的中国文物。
Cai Mingchao, 44, told a press conference in Beijing that he would not pay for the bids; and that he made the bogus offer to protest the sale of looted Chinese relics.
在法国著名设计师伊夫－圣洛朗设计的艺术品收藏专场拍卖会上，一位匿名买家通过电话分别以一千五百万欧元（两千万美元）的价格拍下兔首、鼠首。
The two bronzes of the heads of a rabbit and a rat were auctioned for 15 million euros each to an anonymous telephone bidder during the auction of the late French fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent's art collection.
蔡铭超，中华抢救流失海外文物专项基金的收藏顾问，计划挽救海外流失文物。“我要强调的是，这个款不能付”因为这些文物是侵略者在第二次鸦片战争期间从北京圆明园中盗取的。
Cai, also an advisor to the National Treasure Fund of China, set up to retrieve looted treasures, said: "What I want to stress is that the money won't be paid" for the relics stolen from Beijing's Old Summer Palace in 1860 during the Second Opium War.
他声称自己已经践行了爱国主义：“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，”他说。
He said he had acted out of patriotism: "I believe that any Chinese person would stand up at that moment I am making an effort to fulfil my own responsibilities ... It's just the chance happened to come to me," he said.
牛宪锋，中华抢救流失海外文物专项基金副总干事，他在新闻发布会上称蔡铭超是一位“令人钦佩的公民”。
Niu Xianfeng, deputy director of the fund, described Cai as an "admirable citizen" at the news conference.
“为了成功地制止拍卖继续下去，这是在非常情况下所采取的非常手段，”牛宪峰说。
"This is an extraordinary method taken in an extraordinary situation, which successfully stopped the auction," said Niu.
蔡铭超在福建省经营了一件拍卖公司。他因对文物品收藏的狂热在圈内闻名，并且见证了古董价格市场的起伏兴衰。
Cai, who runs an auction house in Fujian province, is best known for his interest in, and collection of, antique pieces that have been witness to the ebb and flow of history.
2006年蔡铭超以1.166亿港元的成交价，在香港苏富比秋季拍卖会上拍下一件明代永乐鎏金铜释迦牟尼坐像——刷新了拍卖世界纪录，震惊了许多艺术品收藏者和鉴定家。
In 2006, Cai hit the headlines for paying a record HK$116.6 million for a Ming Dynasty Buddhist bronze at a Sotheby's auction in Hong Kong, shocking many veteran art collectors and connoisseurs.
“购买文物实际上就是一种爱国主义情感的表达，”蔡铭超在2007年曾说过。
"The purchases are as much about patriotism as a love of art," Cai said in 2007.
“我们很多人都希望流失海外的中国文物能够回家。”
"Many of us just want these Chinese treasures to come home."
因为他在圈内的名誉，蔡铭超在拍卖当天顺利注册进行投标。
Because of his reputation, Cai successfully registered as a bidder on the day of the auction.
一般地，投标者需要提前几天进行注册。
Usually, bidders are required to register several days before.
现在的问题是：如果蔡铭超拒绝付款，结果又会如何？
Now the question is: What will happen if Cai doesn't pay?
汕静，佳士得北京办事处首席代表，表示这样的案例一般会被移交到公司法律事务部门。公司律师会依据其后的情节处理。
Shan Jing, chief representative of Christie's Beijing office, said such a case would usually be submitted to the company's legal affairs department, and its lawyers would decide on the further course of action.
王峰海，中国拍卖协会的首席代表律师，向中国日报的记者表示，他认为蔡铭超的案例前景并不乐观。
Wang Fenghai, chief lawyer at the China Association of Auctioneers, told China Daily that he is not optimistic about Cai's legal prospects.
“理论上，蔡铭超是应该支付拍卖品的经费的，”他说。
"Theoretically, Cai is required to pay for the auction objects at the price agreed," he said.
“假如没有付款，他将因未履行义务而受到债务处罚。或者，在前文物拥有者的同意下，佳士得可以对其进行再次拍卖。”
"In case of failing to do that, he is supposed to bear liabilities for default or, with the consent of ex-owner, Christie's may put the items up for auction again."
他补充说蔡铭超也许会被要求偿付委托金，预计在三千万欧元的交易中缴付七百万欧元。
He added that Cai might be asked to pay the commission for the sale, estimated at 7 million euros for the 30-million-euro deal.
凯特－玛琳，香港佳士得发言人，不愿透露拍卖公司会采取何种行动，但表示：“如果某些人不愿支付，我们会尝试在买卖双方间进行调解工作。”
Kate Malin, a spokeswoman for Christie's in Hong Kong, would not comment as to what action the auction house would take, but said: "If someone doesn't pay, we try to work through the process with the buyer and the seller.
“没有一个数目客观的金额我们是不会让步的，因为佳士得曾经的确收到过这样的一个要求，并且金额是很明确的，”她补充到。
"No lot will be released until the outstanding amount due to Christie's has been received and the funds are cleared," she added.
赣学军，北京华晨拍卖行经理，认为蔡铭超在拍卖行业内部的荣誉将会受损，而佳士得为了追回赔偿会采取相应的法律行动。
Gan Xuejun, general manager of Beijing Huachen Auctions, said Cai's reputation in the auction business could be ruined, adding Christie's may take legal action to pursue payment from him.
中国政府曾多次要求佳士得停止两尊兽首铜像的拍卖，并归还中国。
The Chinese government has repeatedly demanded Christie's halt the sale of the two bronzes and return them to China.
佳士得不顾来自中国以及世界各界的谴责、异议，坚持对兽首进行拍卖。在拍卖完毕过后，中国表示会彻查拍卖公司的整体操作过程。
Christie's insisted on the sale despite sweeping criticism and objections from China and around the world. After the sale, China said it would tighten checks on the auction house's operations.
兽首曾经是圆明园喷泉的一部分，造型为中国传统的十二生肖。
The bronzes were once part of a fountain that displayed the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac at the Old Summer Palace.
目前，已有五个兽首铜像归还中国，其余的五个下落不明。
Five of the bronzes have been returned to China while the whereabouts of the remaining five are unknown.
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发表于 2016-8-12 16:30:45