Latest news with #WilliamClaxtonPeppé
Saudi Gazette
08-05-2025
- Business
- Saudi Gazette
Sotheby's halts Buddha jewels auction after India threat
SINGAPORE — The auction house Sotheby's has postponed its sale in Hong Kong of hundreds of sacred jewels linked to the Buddha's remains, after a threat of legal action by the Indian government. The sale of the collection - described as one of the most astonishing archaeological finds of the modern era - had drawn criticism from Buddhist academics and monastic leaders. India had said it offended the global Buddhist community. Sotheby's said the suspension would allow for discussions between the parties. A British official named William Claxton Peppé unearthed the relics in northern India nearly 130 years ago, alongside bone fragments identified as belonging to the Buddha himself. The auction of the collection, known as the Piprahwa Gems of the Historical Buddha Mauryan Empire, Ashokan Era, circa 240-200 BCE, was due to take place on 7 May. In a letter to the auction house two days earlier, the Indian government said that the relics constituted "inalienable religious and cultural heritage of India and the global Buddhist community. Their sale violates Indian and international laws, as well as United Nations conventions". A high-level Indian government delegation then held discussions with Sotheby's representatives on Tuesday. In an emailed statement, Sotheby's said that in light of the matters raised by India's government "and with the agreement of the consignors, the auction ... has been postponed". It said updates on the discussions would be shared "as appropriate". Notice of the gems sale had been removed from its auction house by Wednesday and the website page promoting the auction is no longer available. Jewels linked to Buddha remains go to auction, sparking ethical debate William Claxton Peppé was an English estate manager who excavated a stupa at Piprahwa, just south of Lumbini, the believed birthplace of Buddha. He uncovered relics inscribed and consecrated nearly 2,000 years ago. The findings included nearly 1,800 gems, including rubies, topaz, sapphires and patterned gold sheets, stored inside a brick chamber. This site is now in the state of Uttar Pradesh. Sotheby's had said in February that the 1898 discovery ranked "among the most extraordinary archaeological discoveries of all time". — BBC
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Sotheby's halts Buddha jewels auction after India threat
The auction house Sotheby's has postponed its sale in Hong Kong of hundreds of sacred jewels linked to the Buddha's remains, after a threat of legal action by the Indian government. The sale of the collection - described as one of the most astonishing archaeological finds of the modern era - had drawn criticism from Buddhist academics and monastic leaders. India had said it offended the global Buddhist community. Sotheby's said the suspension would allow for discussions between the parties. A British official named William Claxton Peppé unearthed the relics in northern India nearly 130 years ago, alongside bone fragments identified as belonging to the Buddha himself. The auction of the collection, known as the Piprahwa Gems of the Historical Buddha Mauryan Empire, Ashokan Era, circa 240-200 BCE, was due to take place on 7 May. In a letter to the auction house two days earlier, the Indian government said that the relics constituted "inalienable religious and cultural heritage of India and the global Buddhist community. Their sale violates Indian and international laws, as well as United Nations conventions". A high-level Indian government delegation then held discussions with Sotheby's representatives on Tuesday. In an emailed statement, Sotheby's said that in light of the matters raised by India's government "and with the agreement of the consignors, the auction ... has been postponed". It said updates on the discussions would be shared "as appropriate". Notice of the gems sale had been removed from its auction house by Wednesday and the website page promoting the auction is no longer available. William Claxton Peppé was an English estate manager who excavated a stupa at Piprahwa, just south of Lumbini, the believed birthplace of Buddha. He uncovered relics inscribed and consecrated nearly 2,000 years ago. The findings included nearly 1,800 gems, including rubies, topaz, sapphires and patterned gold sheets, stored inside a brick chamber. This site is now in the state of Uttar Pradesh. Sotheby's had said in February that the 1898 discovery ranked "among the most extraordinary archaeological discoveries of all time".
HKFP
07-05-2025
- Business
- HKFP
Sotheby's Hong Kong postpones auction of jewels linked to Buddha remains following India's demand for their return
Auction house Sotheby's has postponed a controversial auction of ancient jewels linked to Buddha's remains after India demanded a halt to the sale, originally scheduled to take place in Hong Kong on Wednesday morning. The move comes days after India's Ministry of Culture issued a statement, saying it 'has issued a legal notice to Sotheby's Hong Kong and Mr. Chris Peppé, the heirs of William Claxton Peppé, demanding the immediate halt of the auction' of the Piphrawa gems. It also demanded the repatriation of the gems to India. 'In light of the matters raised by the Government of India and with the agreement of the consignors, the auction of the Piphrawa Gems of the Historical Buddha, scheduled for 7th May, has been postponed,' Sotheby's Hong Kong told HKFP on Wednesday morning. 'This will allow discussion between the parties.' It was a U-turn from a statement Sotheby's Hong Kong gave to HKFP on Tuesday evening, in which it said that 'the auction will proceed as planned.' According to the legal notice issued by the Indian government, the gems involve sacred Buddhist relics that were excavated by William Claxton Peppé, a British estate manager, in 1898 in the present-day northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. 'These sacred relics… constitute inalienable religious and cultural heritage of India and the global Buddhist community, ' the notice also said. 'Their sale violates Indian and international laws, as well as United Nations conventions.' By 10am Wednesday, Sotheby's had taken down the web page of the scheduled auction. The jewels, which consist of pearls, rubies, topaz, sapphires, and patterned gold sheets, date back to the Ashokan era of the Mauryan Empire, around 240-200 BC. They were discovered by William Claxton Peppé in the Piprahwa Stupa, mixed with bone fragments and ashes, identified by an inscription as belonging to the Buddha, who died around 480 BC. 'These wondrous gem relics, discovered in an inscribed reliquary urn with the Shakya clan's share of the bones of Shakyamuni Buddha, are of unparalleled religious, archaeological and historical importance,' Sotheby's said in its online catalogue before it went offline. According to the Sotheby's website, the Piprahwa gems are 'property from the descendants of William Claxton Peppé.' Chris Peppé, a great-grandson of William Claxton Peppé, was quoted by the BBC as saying that the family looked into donating the relics, but all options presented problems. An auction seemed the 'fairest and most transparent way to transfer these relics to Buddhists,' he told the British broadcaster. Patricia Sauthoff, a professor of Indian history and culture at Hong Kong Baptist University, told HKFP on Wednesday that it was 'shocking' to see such sacred relics go up for auction. 'Nothing like this has ever come up for auction before. The gems are incredibly sacred relics… and they are greatly worshipped by Buddhists,' Sauthoff said, adding that the relics 'should belong to the larger South Asian and global Buddhist community.' When she visited a Sotheby's Hong Kong exhibition of the Piprahwa gems in March, she saw a woman praying in front of the gems. She also said she found it surprising that the Peppé family and Sotheby's decided to put them up for sale and did not find it 'problematic.'
New Indian Express
07-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Auction of Piprahwa Relics by Sotheby's Hong Kong shelved
Following public outcry over the proposed auction of sacred Buddhist relics from Piprahwa, scheduled to take place in Hong Kong on Wednesday, India had taken strong diplomatic and legal measures to stop the sale. The Ministry issued a legal notice to Sotheby's—a leading multinational auction house—demanding the immediate withdrawal of the auction titled 'The Piprahwa Gems of the Historical Buddha, Mauryan Empire, Ashokan Era, circa 240–200 BCE.' The auction, set for Wednesday, includes relics excavated from the Piprahwa Stupa in 1898 by British colonial engineer William Claxton Peppé. In addition to Sotheby's, a notice was also sent to Claxton Peppé's descendants, including Chris Peppé. Responding to the notice, Sotheby's Associate General Counsel Ivy Wong assured Indian officials that the matter has their "full attention," according to ministry sources. Simultaneously, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) requested the Consulate General of India in Hong Kong to urge local authorities to intervene and prevent the auction.
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First Post
06-05-2025
- Business
- First Post
Buddha's Piprahwa relics withdrawn from sale after India writes to Hong Kong auction house
After receiving a legal notice from India's Ministry of Culture, international auction house Sotheby's has assured the government it will take steps to halt the auction of sacred Buddhist relics originally scheduled for 7 May. read more The Indian gems linked to the Buddha are being auctioned. Image Courtesy: Sotheby's After receiving a legal notice from the Ministry of Culture on Monday evening, international auction house Sotheby's has assured the Indian government that it will take the necessary steps to halt the auction of sacred Buddhist relics, which was scheduled for 7 May, The Indian Express reported. The Ministry of Culture urged Sotheby's Hong Kong to withdraw the relics from the auction and cooperate with Indian authorities to ensure their return to their rightful place. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD These relics, discovered at the Piprahwa Stupa, believed to be the site of the ancient city of Kapilavastu, the birthplace of Lord Buddha, are of immense historical and spiritual significance. Earlier, the auction faced fierce backlash, with Buddhist groups calling for action to prevent the sale. This prompted the ministry to gather information and send a formal letter to the auction house, an official told The Indian Express. The Piprahwa relics were discovered by William Claxton Peppé in 1898. They include bone fragments, soapstone and crystal caskets, a sandstone box, and offerings such as gold ornaments and gemstones. A Brahmi inscription on one of the caskets identifies them as relics of the Buddha, placed there by the Sakya clan. The upcoming auction drew attention after the relics were listed on Sotheby's website. The listing stated: 'Sotheby's is honoured to present the Piprahwa gems, appearing for the first time in Hong Kong. The 1898 discovery of these gems by William Claxton Peppé at Piprahwa in northern India, where they were found buried together in reliquaries with the corporeal relics of the Historical Buddha, ranks among the most extraordinary archaeological discoveries of all time.' Although the listing remains on the website, officials from the Culture Ministry told The Indian Express that the auction house has assured them of prompt action. The Piprahwa Stupa is an ancient Buddhist site located near the India–Nepal border in the Siddharthnagar district of Uttar Pradesh. It is considered one of the earliest Buddhist stupas and is closely associated with the relics of the Buddha. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD One of the caskets bears a Brahmi inscription confirming the relics belonged to Gautama Buddha and were donated by the Sakya clan, his own family. Most of these relics were transferred to the Indian Museum in Kolkata in 1899 and are legally protected as 'AA' antiquities under Indian law, which prohibits their sale or export. On Sotheby's website, Chris Peppe wrote: 'The Piprahwa gem relics were passed down from my great uncle to his son, and in 2013, they came to me and my two cousins. That's when I began deeply researching the discovery made by my great-grandfather, William Claxton Peppé.' While some of the bone relics were gifted to the King of Siam, a selection retained by Peppé's descendants has now been listed for auction. Upon learning of this, the Ministry of Culture issued a legal notice to Sotheby's in Hong Kong to immediately halt the sale, according to an official. The ministry has also served a notice to Chris Peppe, asking him to withdraw the relics from the auction and return them to India. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
