In a recent court ruling, a second-hand dealer has emerged victorious in a legal dispute regarding the sale of a rare African mask discovered in the attic of an elderly French couple.
The couple had sold the mask to the dealer for a mere €150, a transaction that resulted from the dealer assisting them in clearing out their attic.
Despite the couple’s subsequent lawsuit, alleging they were misled about the mask’s significant worth, the judge ruled in favor of the dealer. The court maintained that the couple had failed to recognize the true value of the artwork.
The mask in question is a Ngil mask crafted by the Fang people of Gabon and is believed to be one of approximately 10 in existence globally.
The 19th-century wooden mask held historical significance as a ceremonial piece worn by members of the secretive Ngil society, historically tasked with identifying and managing suspected troublemakers, including alleged sorcerers, within villages.
The mask’s provenance traces back to René-Victor Edward Maurice Fournier, a French colonial governor, and the dealer’s grandfather. Acquired around 1917 under unclear circumstances, the mask remained in the family’s possession until its sale to the dealer.
The couple’s legal claim aimed to secure a portion of the €4.2m proceeds from the mask’s sale, contending that the dealer had deceived them about its genuine value.
Despite the dealer’s assertion that he was unaware of its substantial worth and his initial offer of €300,000 based on an initial valuation, the judge sided with the dealer, criticizing the couple for not properly evaluating the mask’s “historical and artistic” value.
The dispute also involved Gabon, which sought to halt the mask’s sale, asserting its rightful ownership. However, the court rejected this argument, despite Gabon’s historical ties as a former French colony from which numerous African artworks were taken during the colonial era.
This legal tussle underscores the ongoing debate surrounding the possession and restitution of African art held outside the continent, with calls from figures like French President Emmanuel Macron for the return of cultural heritage to African countries.
