France Investigates Alleged Theft in Sale of Notre-Dame Stained Glass

French authorities are presently conducting an investigation into allegations of theft associated with the sale of valuable stained glass artifacts once housed within the iconic Notre-Dame Cathedral.

Sotheby's, a renowned auction house, strongly maintains that all proper protocols were meticulously followed during the transaction.

These two stained glass pieces, which mysteriously vanished from the historic Parisian cathedral in 1862, resurfaced at a Sotheby's auction more than a century and a half later, precisely in 2015. One of these exquisite stained glass panels portrays an angel gracefully clutching a candle, while the other showcases an angel holding an incense burner. Each of these pieces boasts a diameter of approximately 40 centimeters (equivalent to 16 inches).

Sotheby's successfully auctioned these artifacts in 2015, fetching 123,000 euros and 111,000 euros for each respectively (approximately $132,000 and $119,000 at the prevailing exchange rates).

A French association, "Lumiere sur le Patrimoine" ("Light on Heritage"), which specializes in scrutinizing potential cases of stolen items within public sales, has asserted that these precious pieces were illicitly acquired from Notre-Dame. Subsequently, they lodged a formal legal complaint encompassing charges of theft and the trafficking of stolen goods.

French prosecutors confirmed their initiation of a police inquiry "for an initial assessment" regarding these allegations.

Historically believed to have originated in the 13th century, these stained glass panels were originally designed as a complementary pair, gracing the primary rose window on the northern transept of the cathedral.

Sotheby's, during the time of the sale, asserted that these artifacts were originally removed from Notre-Dame in 1862 under the supervision of the eminent architect Eugene Viollet-le-Duc, who oversaw the cathedral's restoration. These pieces were purportedly first sold by a stained glass restoration expert named Edouard Didron, sometime between 1877 and 1905.

Sotheby's has fervently maintained that all applicable laws and regulations were meticulously adhered to during the 2015 auction. In an email communication with AFP, they emphasized their thorough research, due diligence, and stringent controls to ensure legal compliance before any item is presented for auction. Moreover, they emphasized that all requisite official authorizations, including export licenses, were duly obtained, and comprehensive notifications were provided to experts and museums.

As of the current situation, Sotheby's has yet to receive any communication from the association that has lodged the complaint. They also pointed out that similar stained glass pieces are currently within the possession of the Art and History Museum in Geneva.

Notre-Dame, one of the most iconic landmarks in the French capital, is currently undergoing extensive restoration efforts following a devastating fire that engulfed its roof in 2019. The cathedral's spire, which tragically collapsed in the inferno, is slated to be reconstructed and will once again grace the Parisian skyline before the commencement of the 2024 Summer Olympics, as confirmed by Philippe Jost, the new head of this monumental reconstruction project. Rising to a towering height of 100 meters above ground level, the wooden spire will gradually emerge from the scaffolding as its roofing is meticulously reinstalled.

Source: gulfnews.com