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Greek warning over London auction Auctioneers defy Greek government
(about 11 hours later)
Greece has warned buyers of former royal treasures being sold by London auction house Christie's that they could face legal action. An auction of Greek royal treasures has gone ahead in London despite protests by the Greek authorities who contest the ownership of the items for sale.
Culture Minister Giorgos Voulgarakis had urged Christie's not to go ahead, saying the items may have been illegally exported from Greece. The auction, which began at Christie's on Wednesday, raised $14m (£7.1m) on its first day, exceeding expectations.
But the auction house said it saw no reason to stop the two-day sale, which began on Wednesday. Greece asked the auction house to halt the sale, warning buyers could face legal action if it found the lots had been illegally exported from Greece.
On offer are more than 850 items once owned by King George I of Greece. On offer were more than 850 items once owned by King George I of Greece.
King George ruled from 1863 to 1913. His collection includes antique silverware, paintings, Chinese jade and Faberge items from the former royal estate in Tatoi, north of Athens.King George ruled from 1863 to 1913. His collection includes antique silverware, paintings, Chinese jade and Faberge items from the former royal estate in Tatoi, north of Athens.
Ownership deniedOwnership denied
Mr Voulgarakis told buyers to think carefully. Greek Culture Minister Giorgos Voulgarakis told buyers to think carefully.
"If someone buys something that proves to be illegal, the state will turn both against Christie's and the buyer," he told state TV."If someone buys something that proves to be illegal, the state will turn both against Christie's and the buyer," he told state TV.
He said Greece had asked the British courts to force the auction house to disclose where it obtained the pieces.He said Greece had asked the British courts to force the auction house to disclose where it obtained the pieces.
The former king denies he is the seller of the antiquitiesThe former king denies he is the seller of the antiquities
Christie's has not identified the seller but, says the BBC's Malcolm Brabant, it is widely believed to be London-based ex-King Constantine. The exiled King Constantine of Greece, who lives in London, was allowed to export some heirlooms in 1991, but he has denied that he is the unidentified seller.
Greece abolished the monarchy in 1973, but in 1991 King Constantine was allowed to remove heirlooms from the Tatoi estate, which was then confiscated in 1994.Greece abolished the monarchy in 1973, but in 1991 King Constantine was allowed to remove heirlooms from the Tatoi estate, which was then confiscated in 1994.
But the royal family said it no longer owned the collection. The royal family said it sold the collection in 1991.
"The items to be auctioned were sold by the Greek royal family in 1991," family spokeswoman Aliki Strongylos told the Associated Press news agency.
"We don't know who is currently selling them."
'Conclusive evidence''Conclusive evidence'
On Tuesday, Christie's said all the items had been legally obtained and in a statement said it saw "no reason for the sale not to go ahead as planned". Before the auction, Christie's said all the items had been legally obtained and in a statement said it saw "no reason for the sale not to go ahead as planned".
King Constantine removed the pieces from Greece in 1991King Constantine removed the pieces from Greece in 1991
It said that Mr Voulgarakis himself told parliament earlier in January that the export of the items had been allowed.It said that Mr Voulgarakis himself told parliament earlier in January that the export of the items had been allowed.
And in a statement on his website on Monday, King Constantine said that "conclusive evidence" concerning the legality of exporting the items had been "repeatedly presented".And in a statement on his website on Monday, King Constantine said that "conclusive evidence" concerning the legality of exporting the items had been "repeatedly presented".
The auction house also said it was surprised by the last-minute request, given that the sale was announced almost two months ago.The auction house also said it was surprised by the last-minute request, given that the sale was announced almost two months ago.
But Victoria Solomonides, Greece's cultural attache in London, told the BBC that this was standard practice.But Victoria Solomonides, Greece's cultural attache in London, told the BBC that this was standard practice.
"If you go to court say 10 days before the sale, there is always a danger that the artefacts will leave the country," she said."If you go to court say 10 days before the sale, there is always a danger that the artefacts will leave the country," she said.
In recent years, Greece has fought hard to repatriate antiquities it says were taken illegally.In recent years, Greece has fought hard to repatriate antiquities it says were taken illegally.