• Sotheby’s postpones auction of sacred Buddhist relics after legal intervention from India.
• Indian government claims relics constitute inalienable cultural heritage.
• The auction of the “Piprahwa Gems” had drawn criticism from the global Buddhist community.
• Relics were originally discovered in 1898 by British explorer William Claxton Peppé.
• Discussions will continue between Sotheby’s and Indian officials regarding the relics’ fate.

Sotheby’s has announced the postponement of a scheduled auction in Hong Kong featuring sacred Buddhist relics, responding to a demand from the Indian government for their return. The collection, referred to as the “Piprahwa Gems of the Historical Buddha,” was set to be auctioned as part of a series focused on Asian art. New Delhi asserts that these relics are part of India’s cultural and religious heritage, and their sale contravenes both Indian and international laws as well as United Nations conventions on cultural property, according to SCMP and BBC.

The relics were discovered in 1898 by British estate manager William Claxton Peppé at a stupa in Piprahwa, sites rich in Buddhist history. Alongside the relics, remains of ash and bones were also found, identified as those of the Buddha. Sotheby’s had valued these items at approximately HK$100 million (US$13 million), highlighting their spiritual significance in the auction catalogue, which described them as a connection to “the historical Buddha himself,” according to Bangkok Post.

The postponement follows a high-level Indian government delegation’s discussions with representatives from Sotheby’s, emphasizing that the jewels should be regarded as inalienable cultural and religious artifacts that hold immense significance for the global Buddhist community. The Indian Ministry of Culture stated that the sale of such pieces is unethical, arguing they embody cultural heritage and should remain in India, as reiterated by BBC and SCMP.

Conversely, family members of Peppé, who currently possess the relics, argue that they intend to ensure the relics are transferred to the Buddhist community ethically. Chris Peppé, a descendant, noted that while they explored donating the collection, the auction was seen as a transparent way to facilitate the relics' return. This reflects ongoing debates regarding the repatriation of culturally significant artworks and how post-colonial ethics should guide their ownership, according to Bangkok Post.