An elderly French couple lost their court case to cancel the sale of an "extremely rare" African mask they sold for €150, which was later discovered to be worth millions. The court ruled that the couple's negligence and failure to have the mask valued before selling it were to blame. The couple's motion to cancel the sale was rejected, and the court also ruled that the antiquities dealer did not deceive them on the price. The mask, belonging to a secret society of the Fang people in Gabon, is considered extremely rare, with only about 10 such masks believed to exist. The couple is considering appealing the ruling.
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.
An antique dealer and YouTube sensation purchased a hoarder house for $7,500 and discovered over $300,000 worth of hidden treasures, including rare coins, fur coats, silver bars, gold and diamond rings, high-end designer items, vintage cutlery, and more. The initial auction brought in nearly $200,000, and the dealer expects to make another $100,000 as the house is emptied. The former owner, a music teacher, was bedridden for months after a car accident and continued to pursue her love for music. The dealer plans to keep the grand piano and open a café next to his antique shop.
