OPEN LETTER/ Come to the dialogue and listen to me speak, otherwise I will cut off your scholarships, you will rot in prison. Please!

 Kliko këtu për të tjera
Voxpress:

An African mask found in the attic was sold for 150 euros, but it was worth more than 4 million: The story of the deal of the century

2023-12-20 21:22:03Lifestyle SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
An African mask found in the attic was sold for 150 euros, but it was worth more
African masks

This will remain the deal of the century. A merchant bought an African mask for 150 euros and entrusted it to an auction house. The auction house resold it to an unknown buyer for 4.2 million euros. The two elderly people will not benefit from anything, except the 150 euros they sold at the beginning.

Mr. and Mrs. Fournier, who decided to quickly get rid of the object found in the attic, will not be able to get it back or receive compensation. The court in Alès, southern France, ruled that the mask's former owners, an 88-year-old retired worker and his 81-year-old wife, who had approached a second-hand dealer to get rid of the accumulated waste at their holiday home in Gard, showed no diligence in accurately assessing the historic site.

They were not deceived. According to the French judge: "They were reckless and therefore have only themselves to blame".

"Their negligence and imprudence means that the request to declare the sale invalid cannot be accepted", said the court.

The second-hand seller bought it for 150 euros along with other items such as a spear, a knife and some musical instruments.

The dealer then contacted an auction house in Montpellier, which examined the object: it turned out to be a rare 19th-century Ngil mask made by the Fang people of Gabon, one of about 10 in existence in the world, possibly purchased around 1917 by René-Victor Edward Maurice Fournier, French colonial governor and ancestor of the 88-year-old.

An expert said at the time that only about 10 such items made by Fang masters were found in the world. "This mask is rarer than a Leonardo da Vinci painting," he told French media.

The merchant denied knowing the mask was so precious. But the auction house also initially released an extremely underestimated initial estimate: around 300,000 euros, which the second-hand seller offered the couple as a demonstration of his good faith. However, they refused and preferred to sue him. Then he withdrew the offer of 300,000 euros and continued the sale at auction. The final price is 4.2 million euros, from which the commission for the auction house will be deducted. Still, it remains a colossal gain.

"When you have such an object at home, you should be a little more curious before giving it away," said Patricia Pijot, the dealer's lawyer. And he did not deceive the sellers because he "did not have any specific knowledge of African art," the court confirmed in its ruling.

The case of the mask was further complicated when the Republic of Gabon filed a criminal complaint for receiving stolen goods, seeking the annulment of the sale and the repatriation of the mask. However, the court also declared Gabon's request inadmissible.

However, the Fourniers have said they will appeal and Gabon may also insist on another legal procedure. For now, though, the second-hand dealer is a winner across the board.


Në përputhje me standarded JTI

Video

SHIKO KANALIN NE YOUTUBE
×