India threatens Sotheby’s with legal action over planned sale of Piprahwa gems
Posted on May 8th, 2025
By Patrick Martin
Wed 7 MayWednesday 7 May
The Piprahwa Gems are considered to be among the most significant finds in the history of Buddhism. (Supplied: Sotheby’s)
In short:
Sotheby’s has postponed its sale of jewels linked to the physical remains of the Buddha after New Delhi threatened to launch legal action.
The relics were inscribed and consecrated about 2,000 years ago and then excavated in 1898 by a British estate manager.
New Delhi argues the sale of the Piprahwa gems violates international laws and UN conventions.
abc.net.au/news/piprahwa-gems-sale-sothebys-india-legal-action/105261720
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Sotheby’s has postponed its sale of jewels linked to the physical remains of the Buddha after a legal threat from India and moral questions about the sale of religious antiquities.
The Piprahwa gems have spent most of the past century in a private family collection after being unearthed in 1898 by a British estate manager.
The relics were found buried with what was believed to be bone fragments and ash of the Buddha.
The collection was set to be sold at Sotheby’s Hong Kong on Wednesday, until New Delhi threatened Sotheby’s with legal action if it did not call off the sale.
India argued that the auction of the gems, which were expected to fetch $20 million, “violates Indian and international laws as well as UN conventions”.
In a statement to the ABC, Sotheby’s confirmed that the auction had been called off.
“In light of the matters raised by the Government of India and with the agreement of the consignors, the auction of the Piprahwa Gems of the Historical Buddha, scheduled for 7th May, has been postponed,” they said.
“This will allow for discussions between the parties, and we look forward to sharing any updates as appropriate.”
What are the Piprahwa gems?
The Piprahwa gems, made up of thousands of pieces of topaz, pearls, rubies, sapphires and gold sheets, were excavated in 1898 by British estate manager William Claxton Peppé.
William Claxton Peppe unearthed the gems in 1898. (Supplied: Peppé family/The Piprahwa Project)
He unearthed the jewels and what are believed to be remains of the Buddha from inside a funeral chamber, known as a stupa, in present-day Uttar Pradesh in northern India.
The relics were inscribed and consecrated about 2,000 years ago, during the Mauryan Empire.
Experts agree that the items are linked to both the Buddha’s Sakya clan and Buddhists worldwide.
When they were unearthed in 1898, the bones and ash found were separated from the jewels, before being gifted by the British colonial government in India to the King of Siam — modern-day Thailand.
He then distributed some of the bones and ash to Buddhist centres across Asia, including in Myanmar, Thailand and Sri Lanka, where they continue to be venerated.
The rest of the hoard was taken to the colonial museum in Kolkata, before a portion was granted back to the Peppé family.