Terracotta Army coming to the British Museum

Wow! This is a must-see exhibition of a lifetime.
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August 8, 2007

Well wrapped up, a terracotta army is prepared to take Britain by storm.

A kneeling terracotta archer, one of only ten to be unearthed from around the tomb of China’s mighty first emperor, yesterday began his journey to London, where he will star in a huge exhibition opening next month at the British Museum.

Museum representatives and Chinese officials took dozens of photographs and compared notes carefully before signing handover documents in the complicated procedure to confide 20 warriors to British hands.

It is the first time that China has allowed such a large number of the warriors abroad, and after more than 2,000 years of guarding royalty through the afterlife, they will travel like a modern-day monarchy: so valuable are the figures — most are insured for between £750,000 and £1.5 million — that they will be flown to London on two flights, to reduce the risk of loss in the event of a crash.

It will be the first time that the British Museum has exhibited soldiers from the army that stands in pits near the ancient capital, Xian, to guard the tomb of Qin Shi Huangdi. The exhibition, China’s First Emperor: The Terracotta Army, opens on September 13.

So delicate are the figures that only five members of staff are qualified to pack them. Four were on hand yesterday to wrap the kneeling archer in his own custom-made crate.

more... [link to www.timesonline.co.uk]

The British Museum [link to www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk]

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