Three auctions of archaeological works in Mexico suspended in Belgium

The auction of three archaeological works identified as Mexican heritage in Belgium was suspended at the request of the Mexican Embassy in Brussels, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Secretariat of Culture.

The pieces to be sold were zoom-type figures made of clay modeled in the state of Colima (west).

A joint statement issued by the two agencies stated that “the Carlo Bonte auction house has decided to withdraw from the auction confirmed by the three pieces it intends to sell and the property of Mexico.”

The Belgian authorities have also warned that parts cannot be sold until the owner presents the corresponding export certificate.

According to Mexican law, all archaeological sculptures are considered national heritage and their commercialization is prohibited.

The Mexican government is actively campaigning to identify archaeological works sold by various galleries in Europe and the United States.

In recent months, Mexico has suspended auctions in Italy, and in February they returned to the Mexican embassy 17 archaeological works owned by two Dutch men for 30 years.

Last week, the auction of rock figures that appeared in the catalog of the Austrian company was suspended.

However, Mexico's efforts were not enough to suspend the auction of about 30 points at the French Gallery Milon on January 28.

Andrés Manuel López Obrador, President of Mexico, calls for the auction of archaeological sculptures “immoral” and calls for a worldwide ban

He also criticized Austria, who for centuries had Aztec feathers (crown of feathers) considered to be in the possession of the Aztec emperor Moctezuma (1502-1520) and that other Mexican governments tried to recover or at least bring to the country for wartime.

The Mexican government said that about 6,000 pieces of archeology that were illegally removed were recovered.

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