Sotheby's has recently decided to delay its auction in Hong Kong of hundreds of precious jewels linked to the remains of the Buddha. This postponement follows a legal warning from the Indian government, which claimed that these relics are crucial to the cultural heritage of both India and the global Buddhist community. The auction was scheduled for May 7 and was initially advertised as one of the most significant archaeological collections uncovered in modern times.
The "Piprahwa Gems" were discovered nearly 130 years ago by British estate manager William Claxton Peppé in northern India, alongside bone fragments believed to belong to the Buddha. The Indian government issued a letter stating that selling the relics would violate both Indian and international laws as well as various United Nations conventions.
A delegation from the Indian government met with Sotheby's representatives to discuss the matter, resulting in the auction house postponing the sale to allow for further negotiations. Sotheby's confirmed that it would update on the discussions as needed, and the auction details have since been removed from its website.
The gems, including rubies, sapphires, and other valuable stones, were found in a brick chamber at a site in Uttar Pradesh, near the birthplace of the Buddha. Sotheby's previously hailed this 1898 find as one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of all time.
