Chinese authorities opposed and tried to stop the sale in Paris, arguing that the statues were stolen and demanding their repatriation. Christie's ignored the objections and proceeded with the sale, though the auction was sabotaged when Chinese collector Cai Mingchao won the bidding but then immediately said he would refuse to pay on moral grounds. 中国有关部门提出反对并试图阻止在巴黎举行的拍卖会，称铜像属于被盗物品，要求返还。佳士得不顾这些反对意见，拍卖会继续进行。但拍卖最终被破坏：中国收藏家蔡铭超赢得竞价，但马上又宣布将因为道德上的原因拒绝付款。
Mr. Curiel said the dispute didn't factor into the government's consideration of the license request. 'They never brought up the bronze heads,' he said. 'Scars heal.' 高逸龙说，政府对执照申请的审核并未考虑这场摩擦。他说，他们从未提起铜首的事。伤口自会愈合。
Christie's expansion into China is vital to maintaining the company's growing client base in the country, which has doubled since 2008. 佳士得向中国内地扩张对于维护其日益庞大的中国客户群体有着至关重要的意义。从2008年以来，佳士得的中国客户已经翻了一倍。
The country's two largest auction houses─Poly Auction and China Guardian─have been expanding beyond China, and both started selling in Hong Kong late last year. 中国最大的两家拍卖行(保利和嘉德)已经在向海外扩张，两家公司去年年末都在香港举行了拍卖。
Still, some say the Christie's move could shift the balance of power in the art market away from the Chinese houses and to the international houses. 但一些人认为，佳士得此举可能会导致艺术品市场的力量平衡从中国拍卖行向国际拍卖行倾斜。
'Christie's could potentially take business away from the local auction houses, especially the smaller ones, because its brand is more trusted,' said Rebecca Catching, director at OV Gallery in Shanghai.
上海OV画廊总监林白丽(Rebecca Catching)说，佳士得可能会夺走本土拍卖行、特别是小拍卖行的生意，因为它的品牌更受信任。
