New York

NEW YORK kicks off its annual week of Asian art sales on Tuesday, red-faced after stolen Indian statues were impounded from Christie's and testing the market in the face of a Chinese economic slowdown.

US special agents seized the sandstone statues, dating back to the eighth and 10th centuries, from Christie's auction house following an international investigation with assistance from India and Interpol, US officials said. Both objects had been valued at US$150,000 and US$300,000, and were listed in Christie's sale of Indian and Himalayan art on Tuesday.