angwusnasomtaqa

 

A protested French auction of ancient and sacred Hopi masks went ahead in Paris via a judge's ruling.  It generated 1.2 million dollars in sales, the 1880's artifact shown above (World News/Art Et Communication / Ho / EPA), Angwusnasomtaqa or Tumas Crow Mother selling for the highest price at $210,000.  

During the auction of Crow Mother, a woman stood up amidst the group of about 200 applauding auction goers, calling out, "Don't purchase that.  It is a sacred being."   

Protesters gathered with signs outside the auction, urging auction goers not to participate.  Bo Lomahquahu, an American exchange student and member of the Hopi tribe said, "We have lots of art that can be shared with other cultures, but not these.  Children aren't even supposed to see them."

The buyer, who declined to be identified,  defended his purchase, stating that, ".. if it had not been for collectors in the 19th century who contributed to the field of ethnology, there would very little knowledge of the Hopi," and, "One day I might give some back."  The buyer acquired 3 other masks, expressing delight at being able to add to his collection of Hopi artifacts.

The Hopi tribe of northeastern Arizona and supporters, including the U.S. ambassador to France and actor Robert Redford, urged the Paris auction house to suspend the sale due to the masks' cultural and religious significance.  Robert Redford wrote:  "To auction these would be in my opinion a sacrilege, a criminal gesture that contains grave moral repercussions."

The French court rejected the motion from both the tribe and Survival International, a London-based advocacy group representing the tribe's interests, the court asserting that it could only intervene to protect human remains or living beings.

Pierre Servan-Schreiber, the lawyer for Survival International, said, "This decision is very disappointing.  Not everything is necessarily up for sale or purchase, and we need to be careful."