A dispute with China over cultural relics acquired by Yves Saint Laurent took a political twist yesterday when the late designer's partner offered to trade them against human rights.
China is demanding the return of two imperial bronzes that are part of a prized art collection assembled by Saint Laurent and his partner Pierre Berge, and which Mr Berge is putting on the block between Monday and Wednesday in what has been called the "sale of the century".
"I'm not about to give the Chinese presents, contrary to what they think," said Mr Berge, a businessman, patron of the arts and long-time rights campaigner.
"I am ready to give these Chinese heads to China if they are ready to recognise human rights," he told French radio.
The fate of the rat's head and rabbit's head, worth up to €10 million apiece, will be examined just hours before the auction kicks off on Monday by a Paris judge.
The Monday 0930 GMT ruling follows a plea from a group demanding the two bronzes be withdrawn from the 732 works offered for sale at a giant auction expected to fetch up to €300 million.
"We want the sale cancelled or delayed to give China the time to find a solution with France," Bernard Gomez, who heads the Association to Protect Chinese Art in Europe (Apace), told AFP.
A group of Chinese lawyers have also launched a legal bid from Beijing to stop the auction.
Christie's has consistently argued that there are no legal grounds to bar the sale of the two rare pieces.
The 18th century Qing dynasty bronzes are believed to be part of a collection of 12 inspired by the Chinese zodiac and to have been looted by British and French troops from the imperial Summer Palace on the outskirts of Beijing nearly 150 years ago.
"Auctioning cultural objects looted in war time not only offends the Chinese people and undermines their cultural rights but also violates relevant international conventions," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Jiang Yu said.
Questioned over the row, Mr Berge said he and Mr Saint Laurent had acquired the bronze heads legally through an established Paris antique dealer.
"These Chinese bronzes were looted 150 years ago in China in the same way as were the Parthenon frescoes in Athens that are now in the British Museum, along with many other looted pieces in museums worldwide," Mr Berge said.