Just in time for the giving season of Christmas...
On December 9, the Drouot auction house in Paris went ahead with an auction of more than 100 American Indian artifacts including 24 masks sacred to the Hopi Indians in Arizona, despite legal attempts by the tribe to halt the sale. Also included in the disputed sale were three items considered sacred by the San Carlos Apaches. Paris lawyer Pierre Servan-Schreiber had represented the Hopis pro bono in the French courts claiming that, despite modern provenance attached to the masks, these items had originally been stolen from the tribe over a century ago.
The Annenberg Foundation, headquartered in Los Angeles, was founded in 1989 by publisher, ambassador and philanthropist Walter H. Annenberg. Gregory Annenberg Weingarten, Vice President and Director of the Foundation lives in Paris and followed the auction case closely. After the court ruled that the sale could proceed, he decided that his foundation would attempt to purchase as many of the items as possible in order to return them to the Hopis. "These are not trophies to have on one's mantel. They are truly sacred works for the Native Americans. They do not belong in auction houses or private collections."
Their plans were kept secret, in part because they did not want to disappoint the Hopi tribe if their plan failed and in part because they feared their involvement would raise the auction prices. The Foundation budgeted $500,000-1M from a discretionary fund set aside for individual projects for the sale.
The actual sale was a co-ordinated effort between the Foundation's Los Angeles office where a French speaking member bid over the phone and Pierre Servan-Schreiber who served as lookout in the auction room.
Hopi Indians believe that the masks, which they call Katsinams are living entities with divine spirits. Sam Tenakhongva, cultural director of the Hopi, watched the auction until 2:00 AM. As each mask was sold, he said he felt that he was saying goodbye to the spirits embodied in the headdresses.
In the end, the Annenberg Foundation spent $530,695 and purchased 21 of the 24 Hopi masks and all three of the Apache items. One additional Hopi mask was purchased by Marshall W. and Veronique Parke who plan to return it to the tribe.
The Hopis of Arizona and the San Carlos Apaches were told of the Foundation's efforts only after the sales were paid and ownership was officially transferred to the Foundation. The Annenberg Foundation is now working with the tribe to arrange safe shipping of the masks to the U.S.. Bubble wrap cannot be used to protect the masks during the move as that is seen as suffocating the divine spirits.
The masks, surreal faces constructed of wood, leather, horsehair and feathers and painted in bright colors are traditionally used in spiritual ceremonies. A Katsina male dancer will wear a Katsinam that represents a unique, non-human spirit believed to have supernatural powers. The Katsina spirit dancers are believed to help the Hopis prosper and to help them raise their children. They are entrusted with teaching the young about Hopi traditions and religion through their dances.
The Hopis have not said what they plan to do with the masks when they arrive, but tribe members do not see them as art objects to be housed in a museum. Traditionally, when a mask is retired, it is left to disintegrate naturally.
Mr. Tenakhongva: "No one should have to buy back their sacred property. But now at least, they will be at home with us and they will go to rest."
what eye thynk: I cannot help but compare the Annenberg Foundation's principles with organizations like those funded by the Koch brothers. Where one uses great wealth to help perfect strangers for no personal profit; the other uses their wealth to hurt anyone they see as different in order to protect their personal fortune.
How glorious and how sad...in that order.
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