Sotheby’s has postponed the auction of the Piprahwa Gems, linked to the Buddha’s remains, following pressure from the Indian government, which threatened legal action for their repatriation. The gems, excavated in 1898 by British collector William Claxton Peppé, were set to be sold for approximately 100 million Hong Kong dollars (around $12.9 million) during a Hong Kong auction. India condemned the auction as offensive to the global Buddhist community, asserting that selling the gems violates Indian law, international conventions, and Buddhist theological principles.
The Piprahwa gemstones are part of a collection of over 1,800 artifacts, mostly held at the Indian Museum in Kolkata, and believed to be enshrined with the cremated remains of the Buddha, who lived around 2,500 years ago. The gems were displayed at Sotheby’s, surrounded by various other Buddhist relics, but the auction house announced the postponement to facilitate discussions among involved parties.
The Indian Ministry of Culture deemed the gems “sacred relics,” asserting that their separation from the remains they accompany contradicts both religious doctrine and archaeological standards. The planned sale faced backlash from Buddhist scholars and religious leaders, emphasizing the ongoing implications of colonial exploitation in such transactions.
Despite the controversy, Peppé’s family viewed the auction as a potential path for transferring the relics to those who value them, although Peppé acknowledged challenges faced in exploring donation options. The Indian government contended that if the family wished to part with the gems, they should first be offered back to India, reflecting ongoing tensions surrounding cultural heritage and restitution.
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