Discover the story of the African mask sold for R$750 by a retired couple and which, after 6 months, was auctioned for R$22 million

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According to one expert, the mask, made by the Fang people of Gabon in the 19th century, is rarer than a painting by Leonardo da Vinci. Mask of the Fang people, from Gabon, which was auctioned for R$22 million Pascal Guyot/AFP In 2021, a retired couple over 80 years old from France found an African mask in their summer home in the city of Alès. At the beginning of the 20th century, the property belonged to a French government official who worked in the country’s colonies in Africa. The mask was inside a closet at the residence. The couple asked a merchant to buy the mask. He paid 130 euros (around R$750, at current prices). Six months later, the couple saw the piece for sale in a catalog at an auction house in the city of Montpellier. The initial price was 300 thousand euros (R$ 1.5 million). At auction, the piece was sold for 4.2 million euros (R$22 million), according to the BBC. The couple sued the man who paid R$750 for the piece. On Tuesday (31), the first hearing of the process took place (read more below). The mask rarer than a painting by Leonardo da Vinci The previous owner of the Alès house was René-Victor Fournier. The auction catalog at which the mask was sold states that he obtained the mask around 1917 under unknown circumstances. According to an RFI report, Fournier worked in Dakar and Congo. The mask was reportedly purchased on a trip to Gabon. The piece was made by people from the Fang people, is about 55 centimeters high, is made of wood, and represents the human figure. It is estimated that the work dates back to the 19th century. According to the auctioneer, the mask belonged to a group of vigilantes who were responsible for warding off problems, such as people who practiced witchcraft. According to the BBC, an expert told French media that there are only about ten masks like this made by Fang masters, and that the piece would be rarer than a painting by Leonardo da Vinci. The retired couple and Gabon want the mask On Tuesday (31), the merchant who bought the piece for R$750 had his first hearing in court in France. The man claims that he himself did not know that the mask was so rare and that it would be auctioned for R$22 million. The process may be suspended. As soon as the case opened, the Gabon government asked for the case to be suspended in court and for the piece to be returned to the country. The Gabon government claims that, before taking any other action, the mask was stolen from there and therefore should be delivered to the country.

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