AN 81-year-old and 88-year-old couple from Nimes, France, has filed a lawsuit against an art dealer known as Mr. Z, who purchased their ‘Ngil’ mask of African origin for a mere £129 and subsequently sold it at auction for an astonishing £3.6 million. This remarkable turn of events unfolded in 2021 when the elderly pair was in the process of decluttering their home.
The ‘Ngil’ mask, a traditional Fang mask hailing from Gabon, holds cultural significance, often used in rituals like weddings and funerals. These highly stylised masks, carved from wood, are crafted by the Fang people, who reside in central Africa. Such masks are exceedingly rare, with just a handful housed in museums worldwide. Interestingly, this particular mask’s history traces back to the husband’s grandfather, a colonial governor in Africa, who brought it to France, as reported by ARTnews.
The elderly French couple, unaware of the item’s colossal value, discovered the shocking truth when they read about the mask’s sale in a newspaper. Believing they had been deceived, they initiated legal action against Mr. Z. As of June 28, the court of appeals in Nimes has ruled in favour of the couple, affirming the legitimacy of their case. Consequently, it has ordered the proceeds of the mask’s sale to be frozen until the case reaches its conclusion.
The heart of the dispute centres on the couple’s claim that the art dealer withheld his suspicions regarding the artifact’s true worth. Instead of displaying the mask in his shop, the dealer contacted three auction houses in France to obtain estimates of its value. The mask was listed for sale at auction with an estimate ranging from £259,416 to £345,888. However, it fetched considerably more when it was sold in March of the previous year.
When confronted with the impending legal action, the dealer initially offered the couple £259,416 in compensation. However, this offer was declined, as it was opposed by their children, as detailed in court documents.
