Watch video: Child knocks down $280,000 golden crown while trying to take photo at an exhibition

An influencer in China has said that a golden phoenix crown gifted to her by her artist husband was severely damaged after a child and his mother accidentally knocked it over while taking photographs at an exhibition in Beijing, as per a SCMP report.

Zhang Kaiyi, who has 13.6 million followers on social media, said on December 13, 2023, that the 2kg crown was damaged during an exhibition at the Beijing X Museum. Surveillance footage shared by Zhang showed a mother attempting to photograph the crown while her primary school-aged son wiped the clear protective case to improve the picture. The case, which was not firmly secured to the pedestal, fell and caused the crown to crash to the ground.

Zhang, who is seven months pregnant, said the incident left her and her husband distressed, as the crown held deep personal significance. She said her husband had designed and crafted the traditional wedding crown as a gift symbolising their relationship. The couple met online and married after a few months of dating.



Based on current gold prices, the crown is valued at nearly two million yuan (about US$280,000). A gold jewellery expert told local Chinese media that its manufacturing cost would have ranged between 200,000 and 400,000 yuan.

Zhang said she was initially devastated and worried the damage might bring bad luck to her marriage and unborn child. However, she later shared that online users comforted her by citing a belief that damaged valuables can ward off misfortune.

The crown was exhibited alongside works by 86 artists under the theme “love.” The exhibition was initiated by Zhang’s husband, who is a PhD candidate at the Central Academy of Fine Arts.

Zhang clarified that she did not post the video to seek compensation, as the crown was insured. She urged parents to supervise children at exhibitions. The videos drew widespread attention, sparking debate over responsibility. Zhang said the insurance company, the museum, and she and her husband will jointly bear the loss.