A retired couple in France has a African mask due to lack of knowledge of the real value for 150 euros sold to a scrap dealer who paid for it 4.2 million euros on a auction achieved. O legal action of the couple Reversal of the 2021 purchase, a court in Alès, southern France, ruled on Tuesday rejected.
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The court ruled that the second-hand dealer responsible for the dissolution of the household in the couple's second home had no special knowledge of art objects. But the couple knew that the man's grandfather had brought the mask, which was in the attic, along with other historical items, from Africa to France around 1900, after he was appointed governor. The court ruled that the couple had not yet been able to value the mask at its true value.
Gabon also demanded the return
It cannot be assumed that the trash dealer acted intentionally. Only later did an expert estimate that the mask was worth between 300,000 and 400,000 euros in the name of the Montpellier auction house. The scrap metal dealer offered the couple a payment of 300,000 euros after the sale.
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The mask was a call Fang mask outside of Gabon of the 19th century. She was also in the process Republic of Gabon as Applicant occurred and had a turn back of the mask required by the country. The court also rejected this claim.
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