An elderly couple sued an art dealer after selling a mask to him for Rs 13,000, only to find out later that it was worth Rs 36 crore. The couple, in their eighties, decided to sell the African mask called ‘Ngil’ while clearing out their home in Nimes, France. They sold it to an art dealer known as Mr Z for 129 pounds (Rs 13,208), but he auctioned it a few months later for 3.6 million pounds (Rs 36,86,17320) in Montpellier. The couple found out about the sale when they came across it in a newspaper and decided to take legal action against Mr Z, claiming that he deceived them by not disclosing the true value of the mask. The mask, sourced from the Fang people of Gabon, is considered rare and is used during weddings and funerals. Testing revealed that the mask dates back to the 19th century, adding to its exceptional rarity. The couple obtained the mask because the husband’s grandfather was a colonial governor in Africa. Although the lawsuit is ongoing, the court of appeals in Nimes believes that the couple’s case is well-founded.
Fri. Sep 20th, 2024
