Mask sells for 4.2 Million

Kmaddock · 29th March 2022, 02:19 PM

Hi
I am just wondering what makes this mask so valuable

https://www.rte.ie/news/2022/0327/1288733-france-mask/

text of article below

Regards

Ken

A carved mask from Central Africa, dating from the 19th Century, has been sold in France for €4.2 million, despite Gabonese protesters in the auction house calling for the item's "'restitution".

The rare wooden "Ngil" mask, used in ceremonies by the Fang ethnic people of Gabon, smashed its estimate of 300,000-400,000 euros at the auction in the southern French city of Montpellier.

"It's a case of receiving stolen goods," a man describing himself as a member of the Gabonese community in Montpellier exclaimed from the back of the auction room, surrounded by half a dozen compatriots.

"We'll file a complaint. Our ancestors, my ancestors, from the Fang community, we will recover this object", the protester added, describing the mask as a "colonial ill-gotten gain".

Auctioneer Jean-Christophe Giuseppi said the auction was "entirely legal", as far as he was aware.

Accompanied by security guards, the demonstrators left the auction hall calmly, but continued their protest against the sale of African works of art.

Yesterday's auction also included a Congolese chair which sold for €44,000.

With added costs and fees, the total paid by the successful bidder for the Fang mask was €5.25m, close to a record for such an item.

In 2006 a similar Fang mask brought in €5.9m at a Paris auction

29th March 2022, 02:19 PM	#1
Kmaddock Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: Ireland Posts: 543	Mask sells for 4.2 Million Hi I am just wondering what makes this mask so valuable https://www.rte.ie/news/2022/0327/1288733-france-mask/ text of article below Regards Ken A carved mask from Central Africa, dating from the 19th Century, has been sold in France for €4.2 million, despite Gabonese protesters in the auction house calling for the item's "'restitution". The rare wooden "Ngil" mask, used in ceremonies by the Fang ethnic people of Gabon, smashed its estimate of 300,000-400,000 euros at the auction in the southern French city of Montpellier. "It's a case of receiving stolen goods," a man describing himself as a member of the Gabonese community in Montpellier exclaimed from the back of the auction room, surrounded by half a dozen compatriots. "We'll file a complaint. Our ancestors, my ancestors, from the Fang community, we will recover this object", the protester added, describing the mask as a "colonial ill-gotten gain". Auctioneer Jean-Christophe Giuseppi said the auction was "entirely legal", as far as he was aware. Accompanied by security guards, the demonstrators left the auction hall calmly, but continued their protest against the sale of African works of art. Yesterday's auction also included a Congolese chair which sold for €44,000. With added costs and fees, the total paid by the successful bidder for the Fang mask was €5.25m, close to a record for such an item. In 2006 a similar Fang mask brought in €5.9m at a Paris auction