https://en.sputniknews.africa/20231222/french-court-rejects-gabons-bid-to-revoke-sale-of-rare-mask-1064257205.html
French Court Rejects Gabon's Bid to Revoke Sale of Rare Mask
French Court Rejects Gabon's Bid to Revoke Sale of Rare Mask
Sputnik Africa
The 19th century carved object was originally bought for 150 euros from an octogenarian couple by a secondhand dealer. It was later sold at auction for 4.2... 22.12.2023, Sputnik Africa
2023-12-22T17:44+0100
2023-12-22T17:44+0100
2023-12-22T17:44+0100
sub-saharan africa
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A French court has rejected a request by the Gabonese government to cancel the auction of a rare mask and return it to its homeland.At an auction in March 2022, the "prerogative of the secret society of the Fang people of Gabon," of which only ten remain in the world, was sold to an anonymous buyer for a near-record price.The mask was discovered by the inhabitants of the Gard region of France, whose ancestor had been a colonial governor in Africa.The couple, who sold the artifact to the retailer for a modest sum, asked the court to cancel the sale of the mask "due to a mistake regarding its authenticity." The dispute also involved the Gabonese government, which demanded that the sale be canceled and the mask returned to its home country.French courts finally ruled on December 19 that there had been no fraud.
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gabon, west africa, culture, history, artifact, france, court, fraud
gabon, west africa, culture, history, artifact, france, court, fraud
French Court Rejects Gabon's Bid to Revoke Sale of Rare Mask
The 19th century carved object was originally bought for 150 euros from an octogenarian couple by a secondhand dealer. It was later sold at auction for 4.2 million euros.
A French court has rejected a request by the Gabonese government to cancel the auction of a rare mask and return it to its homeland.
At an auction in March 2022, the "prerogative of the secret society of the Fang people of Gabon," of which only ten remain in the world, was sold to an anonymous buyer for a near-record price.
The mask
was discovered by the inhabitants of the Gard region of France, whose ancestor had been a colonial governor in Africa.
The couple, who sold the artifact to the retailer for a modest sum, asked the court to cancel the sale of the mask "due to a mistake regarding its authenticity."
The dispute also involved the Gabonese government, which demanded that the sale be canceled and the
mask returned to its home country.
French courts finally ruled on December 19 that there had been no fraud.
