"Lead isotope analysis of the bronze alloy provided indisputable evidence of the Chinese origin of the materials used in the statue."
So we definitely know that the metal came from China. I suppose it's theoretically possible the metal could have been made in China, exported elsewhere to make into the statue, but that seems like a claim that would require a LOT of evidence to make plausible.
> suppose it's theoretically possible the metal could have been made in China, exported elsewhere to make into the statue
Or the metal was made in China, made into a statue and then reworked into a slightly different one. Happens all the time that statues get melted down and the metal is reused.
> that seems like a claim that would require a LOT of evidence to make plausible
That is not the claim. The claim is that we don’t know.
Direct quote from comment: “the origin of the artwork seems unclear”.
Saying “we know both the metal and the pattern the metal is in came from China” is what requires evidence. (Not extra ordinary evidence, but some. For example the stylistic analysis mentioned in the article could be that evidence easily.)
And before someone tries to psychoanalyse my opinion about the origins of this statue: i do not have an opinion.
The only thing i have strong opinions about is that the person claiming that we do know something is the one who has to provide evidence, not the person who claims we don’t know something.
That seems beyond implausible; shipping bronze half way around the world a thousand years ago would just make no sense at all. It would be _vastly_ more expensive than just sourcing it locally.
> I suppose it's theoretically possible the metal could have been made in China, exported elsewhere to make into the statue
First it's not theoretical where the metal is from, it's just been established. That is all that's been proven.
Second, I'm not aware of much international metals trade across the silk road circa 1290~. If that was the case.. I really would expect some documentation on it. Especially given Venice's historical diligence with recording trade.
