Dozens of 'stolen' ancient Hopi Masks Auctioned in France

[ShadowDancer]

This is positively depressing:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2308119/Stolen-ancient-Native-American-masks-OKd-sale-French-court-despite-tribal-pleas-return.html

(Daily Mail UK) A Paris court ruled Friday in favor of a French auction house that plans to sell dozens of Native American tribal masks despite pleas from Arizona’s Hopi people, friends to the tribe like actor Robert Redford, and even from the U.S. government.

After a saga  that began around a century ago, these intricate masks—which are fed and nurtured by the Hopi like the living dead—will be auctioned off to the highest bidder worlds away from where they began their journey in the deserts of Arizona.

The potentially landmark decision with transatlantic repercussions means the sale can go ahead at Drouot auction house Friday afternoon, giving a rare glimpse of the ornate masks and headdresses to the European crowd.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/04/12/entertainment-us-france-masks-idUSBRE93B0AH20130412

(Reuters) - An auction of ancient masks revered as sacred by a Native American tribe fetched more than 750,000 euros on Friday, disappointing prominent opponents of the sale after a French court ruled it should go ahead.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/paris-court-rules-to-allow-auction-of-native-american-artifacts-despite-us-call-for-delay/2013/04/12/ff7292ce-a359-11e2-bd52-614156372695_story.html

(Washington Post) The total tally was 931,000 euros ($1.2 million), with the most expensive, the “Mother Crow,” selling for 160,000 euros ($209,000) — more than three times the pre-sale estimate.


Of the 70 masks up for sale, one was bought by an association to give back to the Hopis, the Drouot auction house said.

From the same Washington Post article, someone without a clue:

Monroe Warshaw, an art collector from New York, who bought two masks for around 28,000 euros ($36,500) euros, said he didn’t believe the masks had been stolen from the Hopis and that the person who acquired them should be thanked, not criticized, for preserving them.

“How did they steal them? Did some antique dealer go into their house at night and steal them?” he said, as the auction was still in progress.

He added that he will “probably not” ever give them back to the Hopis as “they didn’t care for them in the first place — now they want them because they have a value.”

[earthw7]

this more normal then u think

[milehighsalute]

as a pueblo i am appalled

[Odelle]

Quote
Monroe Warshaw, an art collector from New York, who bought two masks for around 28,000 euros ($36,500) euros, said he didn’t believe the masks had been stolen from the Hopis and that the person who acquired them should be thanked, not criticized, for preserving them.

“How did they steal them? Did some antique dealer go into their house at night and steal them?” he said, as the auction was still in progress.

He added that he will “probably not” ever give them back to the Hopis as “they didn’t care for them in the first place — now they want them because they have a value.”

Yep, and Nazi art thieves also should be thanked for preserving masterpieces.

[milehighsalute]

what an asshole