An elderly French couple has lost a court case over a rare African mask worth $4.6 million. The couple sold the mask to a dealer for $165, claiming they were misled about its value. However, the judge ruled in favor of the dealer, stating that the couple failed to recognize the true worth of the artwork. The Ngil mask, crafted by the Fang people of Gabon, is one of approximately 10 in existence and is believed to have been worn by members of the Ngil secret society. The couple's legal action to claim a portion of the sale proceeds was unsuccessful, and the offer was withdrawn. Gabon's attempt to block the sale was also dismissed by the court.
An antiques dealer who purchased a rare African mask for $165 from an elderly couple won a legal battle after selling it for $4.6 million. The French couple, who obtained the mask from an ancestor, sold it during a garage sale without realizing its true value. The couple later discovered the mask's worth and attempted to cancel the sale, claiming an "authentication error" and accusing the dealer of cheating. However, the court ruled in favor of the dealer, stating that the couple's negligence in getting the mask valued before selling it was the cause of their troubles.
An elderly couple sold an African mask to a local antique dealer for $158, unaware of its true value. The mask, a rare 19th-century Ngil mask used in rituals by the Fang people in Gabon, was later sold at auction for $4.4 million. The couple is now suing the dealer for allegedly cheating them by withholding the mask's value. The dealer sought appraisals and radiocarbon dating before putting it up for auction, but initially estimated its worth to be under €600. The couple alleges that the dealer also involved their gardener in assessing the mask's authenticity. The case remains open as the couple appeals the initial court ruling, and the appeals court has seized the money from the sale.
