French State Confiscate Medieval Stained Glass Before Auction
February 24 2021
Picture: La Gazette Drouot
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
La Gazette Drouot have drawn attention to an intervention from the French State to confiscate a pair of medieval stained glass from the auction house Pierre Bergé & Associés days before they were due to go on sale.
The glass windows, dating from the twelfth century, are believed to have come from the basilica of Saint-Denis. Several selections of windows were removed from the Church in 1799 and were placed into storage. Although the windows don't appear in any of the inventories that were made of the stored glass, the French state have stated that its up to the seller to 'provide proof of their lawful provenance'.
The windows had carried estimates of €200k - €300k and €300k - €400k respectively.
