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| Protested Sale of Hopi Works Brings $1.2 Million | |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| PARIS — A French judge ruled on Friday that a major auction of ancient Native American masks and other artifacts could proceed despite a request by the American ambassador that the sale be delayed until the legal status of the items could be determined. The ruling came just hours before the sale was to begin. | PARIS — A French judge ruled on Friday that a major auction of ancient Native American masks and other artifacts could proceed despite a request by the American ambassador that the sale be delayed until the legal status of the items could be determined. The ruling came just hours before the sale was to begin. |
| The Hopi tribe of northeastern Arizona had challenged the auction of around 70 elaborately painted masks and headdresses, saying that they were sacred, communally owned objects that they believe may have been obtained illegally more than a century ago. | The Hopi tribe of northeastern Arizona had challenged the auction of around 70 elaborately painted masks and headdresses, saying that they were sacred, communally owned objects that they believe may have been obtained illegally more than a century ago. |
| “This is a very unfortunate outcome, as these objects will now be sold and dispersed, and the likelihood that they will eventually return to their true home amongst the Hopi is severely reduced,” Pierre Servan-Schreiber, a lawyer representing the tribe, said in a statement after the judge’s ruling. “It also probably means that French institutions are still not fully aware of the devastating consequences that such mercantile fate for truly sacred objects may have on tribes who have already suffered so much.” | “This is a very unfortunate outcome, as these objects will now be sold and dispersed, and the likelihood that they will eventually return to their true home amongst the Hopi is severely reduced,” Pierre Servan-Schreiber, a lawyer representing the tribe, said in a statement after the judge’s ruling. “It also probably means that French institutions are still not fully aware of the devastating consequences that such mercantile fate for truly sacred objects may have on tribes who have already suffered so much.” |
| Reached by telephone, Mr. Servan-Schreiber said that he had filed a last-minute motion with the French regulator that oversees auction houses to request the sale be suspended. But he conceded that it was unlikely that the regulator would “have the appetite” to intervene. | Reached by telephone, Mr. Servan-Schreiber said that he had filed a last-minute motion with the French regulator that oversees auction houses to request the sale be suspended. But he conceded that it was unlikely that the regulator would “have the appetite” to intervene. |
| Néret-Minet Tessier & Sarrou, the auctioneer organizing the sale, welcomed the court’s decision. "It is important not to create a precedent validating the prohibition of the sale of any object of a sacred nature, regardless of the culture concerned," the auctioneer said in statement. "Our goal has always been to showcase Hopi culture and make it accessible to the largest number of people and in strict compliance with the law.” | Néret-Minet Tessier & Sarrou, the auctioneer organizing the sale, welcomed the court’s decision. "It is important not to create a precedent validating the prohibition of the sale of any object of a sacred nature, regardless of the culture concerned," the auctioneer said in statement. "Our goal has always been to showcase Hopi culture and make it accessible to the largest number of people and in strict compliance with the law.” |
| The case has drawn criticism from a number of high-profile Americans sympathetic to the cause of the Hopi nation, which numbers just under 20,000 people. | The case has drawn criticism from a number of high-profile Americans sympathetic to the cause of the Hopi nation, which numbers just under 20,000 people. |
| Late Thursday, Charles H. Rivkin, the American ambassador to France, had urged that the sale be suspended given “the importance of these sacred objects to the Hopi Nation” to allow time to determine the provenance of the items. Mr. Rivkin expressed his disappointment with the ruling Friday. | Late Thursday, Charles H. Rivkin, the American ambassador to France, had urged that the sale be suspended given “the importance of these sacred objects to the Hopi Nation” to allow time to determine the provenance of the items. Mr. Rivkin expressed his disappointment with the ruling Friday. |
| In a statement in French on Twitter, Mr. Rivkin said he was “saddened” by the judge’s ruling. | In a statement in French on Twitter, Mr. Rivkin said he was “saddened” by the judge’s ruling. |
| While the United States has agreements with numerous foreign governments to help them retrieve antiquities found to be in American hands, Washington has no such reciprocal arrangements overseas. Moreover, American laws that restrict illegal sales of Native American artifacts in the United States are not typically recognized by the authorities abroad. | While the United States has agreements with numerous foreign governments to help them retrieve antiquities found to be in American hands, Washington has no such reciprocal arrangements overseas. Moreover, American laws that restrict illegal sales of Native American artifacts in the United States are not typically recognized by the authorities abroad. |
| Néret-Minet, the auction house, had estimated that the Paris sale would be one of the largest ever of Hopi artifacts ever and could bring in as much as $1 million. The objects for sale range in price from $2,000 to $32,000 each. | Néret-Minet, the auction house, had estimated that the Paris sale would be one of the largest ever of Hopi artifacts ever and could bring in as much as $1 million. The objects for sale range in price from $2,000 to $32,000 each. |
| The auction house says that the artifacts were bought legally by an unidentified collector in the United States over a period of 30 years beginning in the 1930s. | The auction house says that the artifacts were bought legally by an unidentified collector in the United States over a period of 30 years beginning in the 1930s. |
| Historians say many Hopi artifacts were originally taken from tribal lands in the late 1800s and early 1900s — either by missionaries or by people who found them in shrines and on altars across the American Southwest. Others were sold by Hopi members themselves. Hopi leaders have challenged those sales, however, arguing that they are communal property. | Historians say many Hopi artifacts were originally taken from tribal lands in the late 1800s and early 1900s — either by missionaries or by people who found them in shrines and on altars across the American Southwest. Others were sold by Hopi members themselves. Hopi leaders have challenged those sales, however, arguing that they are communal property. |
| Robert Redford, the American actor and director who maintains close relations with the Hopi, called the planned sale a “sacrilege” that would have “grave moral consequences.” | Robert Redford, the American actor and director who maintains close relations with the Hopi, called the planned sale a “sacrilege” that would have “grave moral consequences.” |
| “These ceremonial objects have a sacred value and belong to the Hopi and only the Hopi,” Mr. Redford said in a letter of support published on Thursday. | “These ceremonial objects have a sacred value and belong to the Hopi and only the Hopi,” Mr. Redford said in a letter of support published on Thursday. |