A pair from France who mistakenly sold an exceptionally uncommon African mask for €150, later finding out it was worth millions, had their appeal to cancel the transaction dismissed in court.
The elderly duo, both in their 80s, recently sold a wooden mask and other African artifacts to a secondhand dealer in September 2021. These items were part of a larger collection that the couple had stored in their secondary residence in southern France.
The items previously belonged to a predecessor who served as a governor during the colonial era in Africa, and it was thought that they held minimal worth.
The pair, residing in Eure-et-Loir, located southwest of Paris, originally sold the mask for €150. However, in March 2022, it was purchased at an auction in Montpellier for €4.2m by an unknown buyer.
The auctioneers labeled it as a one-of-a-kind mask from the 1800s, belonging to a secretive society within the Fang people of Gabon, a Bantu ethnic group. There are only around 10 of these masks remaining. A representative from the auction house stated on French television that this type of mask is more scarce than a painting by Leonardo da Vinci.
The couple quickly requested a court order to nullify the initial transaction, stating that there was an “authentication error”. They also alleged that the buyer of the mask was aware of its true worth when making the purchase.
However, the court denied the petition, stating that the couple had not made any effort to have the mask appraised before selling it.
The court declared that their assertion was marked by “unjustifiable carelessness and lack of seriousness”. Therefore, they were not entitled to receive any compensation.
The court also determined that the seller of antiquities, who lacked knowledge of African art, did not deceive them.
The dealer initially proposed a payment of €300,000, which was the starting price for the auction. However, the couple’s children declined and opted to bring the issue to court.
According to the couple’s attorney, Frédéric Mansat Jaffré, his clients were shocked and speechless after the verdict was announced. They are now contemplating whether to file an appeal.
The court dismissed the government of Gabon’s request to void the sale and retrieve the mask.
Gabonese community members in southern France participated in the auction to express their disapproval, stating that the mask should not have been offered for sale and should be repatriated to Gabon.
In the beginning of the year, Solange Bizeau, a member of the Collectif Gabon Occitanie, along with other members of the Gabon community, expressed their opposition to the auction. In an interview with the Guardian, Bizeau stated, “This court case involves the grandchildren of the governor and a secondhand dealer, neither of whom have rightful ownership of this mask. Our goal is to have the mask returned to Gabon.”
This mask possesses a spirit, as it was utilized to enforce fairness in our communities. The court proceedings have centered on morality, but what about the morality of taking away artistic creations and our honor? Where is the morality in that?
Source: theguardian.com
