Paris, October 12: An Art Dealer in France is facing legal action for selling an African mask, "Ngil" to an exorbitant rate of Rs 36 crore after buying it for Rs 13,000 from an elderly couple in France's Nimes. The couple who is in their eighties found out about the sale in the newspapers and decided to sue the art dealer. They believe the art dealer deliberately concealed the information from them.

A person named Mr Z had bought the African mask at a knockdown price of 129 pounds (Rs 13,208) and a month later sold it in an auction for a whopping 3.6 million pounds (Rs 36,86,17320). The elderly duo had found the mask while cleaning their house and decided to sell it to the art dealer Mr Z in 2021. Kanpur Man Duped of Rs 9 Lakh While Purchasing 'Magic Mirror' to 'See People Naked and Learn About Future', Three Fraudsters Arrested.

According to Metro, the mask belonged to the Fang people of Gabon and is a rare artifact found only in museums worldwide. The mask was used by the tribes during weddings and funerals. The couple got hold of the mask from the husband's grandfather who was a colonial governor in Africa.

"The mask coated with kaolin chessewood is exceptional and a rare piece. Only a dozen specimens are known to exist worldwide in museums and collections", ArtNews cited court documents. Hotel Booking Scam in Mumbai: IT Firm's Consultant Director Duped of Rs 4 Lakh While Trying to Book Room in Five-Star Hotel Online.

The legal proceedings are still underway. The court has said that the couple’s case "appears to be well-founded in principle", reported Metro. It has been reported that the funds from the sale have been placed on hold until the case ends. Mr X had made an offer of over Rs2 crore to the elderly couple which was outrightly rejected, reportedly because of opposition from their children.

Fang masks are known  for their fine wood carvings. The masks are made by people residing in Cameroon, Gabon and Equatorial Guinea region. Testing done on the mask dates it to the 19th century and court documents say  ‘the masks are exceptional in terms of its rarity’.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 12, 2023 12:49 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).