The two sculptures were part of a water clock designed by a Jesuit missionary for the Beijing summer palace, a Chinese version of Versailles, which was looted by French and English troops in 1860.

• 这两件兽首铜像是“水力钟”的一部分。“水力钟”是一位耶酥会传教士为北京圆明园设计的。圆明园是中国版的“凡尔赛宫”，1860年圆明园遭英法联军洗劫。