Buddha Relics Auction On Hold Now

Sacred Gems, Colonial Shadows: Buddha Relics Auction Halted Amidst Fierce Ethical Storm

An international furore over the planned sale of ancient gemstones connected with the Buddha’s mortal remnants reached a critical point this week. Sotheby’s Hong Kong postponed a high-profile auction scheduled for Wednesday, 7 May 2025. This last-minute decision followed a formal legal intervention by India's government. India demanded the immediate halt of the sale and the repatriation of the sacred artefacts. The Ministry of Culture in New Delhi asserted that the jewels constitute India's inalienable religious and cultural heritage.

They further accused the auction of violating national and international laws, including UN conventions. The auction establishment recognized the apprehensions of the Indian administration. Sotheby's stated the postponement would allow for discussions between parties, with the agreement of the consignors, the Peppé family. This dramatic turn of events throws the future of these historically priceless and spiritually significant items into uncertainty. It also ignites a broader debate about cultural ownership and colonial legacies.

The Piprahwa Discovery: A Momentous Unearthing

The narrative surrounding these contested gemstones started more than one hundred years previously. During January of 1898, William Claxton Peppé, a British colonial engineer and individual overseeing an estate, conducted an excavation. He explored a prominent brick stupa on his Birdpur estate near Piprahwa village in Uttar Pradesh, northern India. This location lies close to Lumbini in Nepal, widely revered as the Buddha's nativity site. Peppé’s team dug through many feet of solid brickwork.

They eventually unearthed a massive stone coffer. Inside, they found five small reliquary vases. These caskets contained a remarkable collection: bone fragments, ash, and a dazzling array of gold ornaments, pearls, and intricately patterned gemstones like rubies, sapphires, and topaz. Crucially, an inscription in ancient Brahmi script on one urn identified the bone relics. It declared them to be the Sakya clan's share of Gautama Buddha's sacred remains following his cremation around 480 BCE. This find was acclaimed widely as among modern archaeology's most stunning revelations. It provided tangible links to the historical Buddha and his kin.

A Contentious Custodianship: The Peppé Family's Share

Following the 1898 discovery, the colonial Indian government received the majority of the find from William Claxton Peppé. People subsequently shared the skeletal artifacts, deemed most holy, with King Rama V of Siam (now Thailand). He then distributed portions to Buddhist communities worldwide for veneration. The main stone coffer and many other artefacts went to the Indian Museum in Kolkata, at that time the Imperial Museum of Calcutta. However, official sources indicate that William Peppé received permission to retain a portion of the find.

Sotheby's and the Peppé family describe this portion, estimated at about one-fifth of the total discovery, as "duplicate items". These items, primarily the gemstones and gold ornaments, stayed within the Peppé family's private holdings for over a hundred years. Chris Peppé, William's great-grandson, documented the gemstones' transfer from a great-uncle to a cousin, prior to his own inheritance alongside his two other cousins during 2013. This inheritance reportedly prompted his in-depth research into their discovery.

The Glittering Hoard: Treasures of Faith

The complete Piprahwa hoard comprised nearly 1,800 individual pieces. These included delicate pearls, vibrant rubies, shining topaz, deep sapphires, and gold foils with intricate designs. The specific collection prepared for the now-postponed Sotheby's auction consisted of over 300 of these sacred gem relics. These items, crafted with exquisite detail, are thought to have experienced interment alongside the Buddha's bone fragments for over two millennia. Sotheby's, in its auction catalogue, described them as relics that offer a "portal to another dimension, another time, to the historical Buddha himself". The estimated value for this single lot started at HK 1.3 million, though final estimates were available only on request, suggesting expectations of a much higher price. For many Buddhists, these gems are not mere decorations. They are integral to the sacred deposit, imbued with the Buddha's presence.

Image Credit - BBC

Sotheby's Stance: Justifying the Sale Pre-Postponement

Before India's government intervened, forcing a postponement, Sotheby's defended its decision to auction the Piprahwa gems. Julian King, an international specialist at Sotheby's, stated the auction firm undertook a comprehensive examination. This review reportedly encompassed genuineness, origin, lawfulness, and additional factors, adhering to their established procedures and the prevailing benchmarks within the sector. Nicolas Chow, who holds a prominent position at Sotheby's Asia, expressed his conviction that the 1898 unearthing ranked among history's most phenomenal archaeological revelations.

The auction house maintained that the sale was legal and consistent with industry norms. They also highlighted that the Peppé family's portion had featured in several prominent museum exhibitions in recent years. These exhibitions occurred at venues such as the Museum Rietberg in Zurich, the Rubin Museum of Art in New York, the Asian Civilisations Museum in Singapore, The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York (in 2023), and the National Museum of Korea in Seoul. Additionally, an online platform, "The Piprahwa Project," was initiated by the Peppé family to share their research.

India's Outcry: "Inalienable Heritage"

India's administration responded with considerable force to news of the impending auction. India's Ministry of Culture issued a legal notice to Sotheby's Hong Kong and the Peppé family on Monday, 5 May 2025. This notification required the prompt removal of the ancient items from the auction. It also called for cooperation with Indian authorities to return the sacred artefacts to India. Officials argued the relics are 'AA' antiquities under Indian law. This classification prohibits their sale or removal from the country. The Ministry further contended that the sale would violate international norms, including the UNESCO 1970 Convention on Cultural Property and the UNIDROIT Convention. India also demanded a public apology from Sotheby's and Chris Peppé. They warned of legal action and global awareness campaigns highlighting the auction house's role in "perpetuating colonial injustice". The Culture Ministry expressed pleasure when Sotheby's subsequently announced the postponement.

Ethical Quagmire: Commodity or Sacred Relic?

The core of the controversy revolves around a fundamental ethical question. Can items so profoundly interwoven with religious faith and sacred history be considered commodities for sale on the open market? Naman Ahuja, an art history specialist from Delhi, articulated this concern prior to the postponement. He questioned the ethical authorisation of the seller, termed the "custodian," to auction such items. He posed the question regarding the authority under which this guardianship operated and if it permitted such a sale. Many scholars and Buddhist practitioners argue that these relics, including the gems, are not simply art objects. They are considered śarīra – corporeal remains infused with the vital essence of the Buddha. This view implies that their spiritual value transcends any monetary assessment. The commercialisation of such items is seen by many as a desecration of their sacred character and a disregard for the sentiments of millions of Buddhists globally.

Image Credit - BBC

A Descendant's Dilemma: Chris Peppé's Defence

Chris Peppé, William Claxton Peppé's great-grandson and a television director based in Los Angeles, presented the family's rationale for the auction. He conveyed that the family had investigated avenues for gifting the ancient items to religious sites and museums. However, he stated that these alternatives presented various problems upon closer scrutiny. Consequently, he considered an auction through a reputable house like Sotheby's the most equitable and open method for moving these ancient items to Buddhist communities. He expressed confidence that Sotheby's would achieve this outcome.

Peppé also made note of his research into his ancestors. He recorded discovering 1898 press articles that declared the unearthing of the Buddha's remnants. He acknowledged a sense of cultural shame regarding British colonialism in India. However, he also found that his great-grandfather, Willie Peppé, initiated the stupa's unearthing partially to offer employment opportunities to tenant agricultural workers during the 1897 famine. His detailed diagrams also suggested Willie Peppé possessed qualifications as an engineer.

Scholarly Voices: The Indivisibility of Śarīra

Several academics specializing in Buddhist and Southeast Asian art forms have strongly criticised the proposed sale. Ashley Thompson from SOAS University of London, alongside Conan Cheong, a curator – both specialists in Southeast Asian artistic traditions – issued a joint statement. They questioned whether human remains should be traded and who decides what constitutes human remains. For many Buddhist practitioners, they argued, the gems for sale are "part and parcel of the bones and ash."

In a recent paper, Cheong and Thompson further elaborated. They situated the continued division of "gems" from "bones and ash" in colonial processes of extraction, classification, and revaluation. They assert that the inscription found at Piprahwa clearly indicates all relics deposited in the stupa were considered the śarīra of the Buddha. Treating them as separate marketable "gems" perpetuates a colonial mindset and dispossesses practicing Buddhists of their heritage. The auction, they argued, transforms highly sacred materials into saleable objects.

Buddhist Communities Alarmed: A Question of Veneration

The intended sale generated notable apprehension within Buddhist leadership circles and organisations worldwide. Venerable Yon Seng Yeath, chancellor of Preah Sihanouk Raja Buddhist University in Cambodia, protested the auction. He stated that such a sale devalues humanity's respect for the Buddha and that items representing the Buddha's wisdom should not be sold. Amal Abeyawardene of the British MahaBodhi Society, based in London, also voiced objections. He reminded that Buddha's teachings advise against taking others' possessions without consent. Abeyawardene stated historical records indicate the Sakyamuni clan received custody of these relics because the Buddha came from their community. Their wish, he explained, was for these relics and their adornments, like the gems, to be preserved for perpetual veneration by Buddha's followers. The auction's timing, near the sacred Buddhist day of Vesak, further intensified the sense of violation for many devotees.

Image Credit - BBC

Colonial Legacies and Modern Sensitivities

The controversy surrounding the Piprahwa gems inevitably evokes the broader, painful history of colonial extraction. Many critics view the attempt to sell these sacred items on the international art market as a continuation of colonial-era practices. During that period, countless cultural and religious artefacts were removed from their original contexts across the colonised world. India's Ministry of Culture explicitly condemned the sale as "continued colonial exploitation". Chris Peppé himself acknowledged the "cultural shame" associated with British colonisation. His investigations brought to light intricacies in his forebears' intentions, suggesting Willie Peppé's actions were not solely driven by treasure hunting. Nevertheless, the act of a colonial official excavating and retaining portions of such a profoundly sacred discovery, and his descendants now offering them for sale, touches raw nerves. It raises questions about historical justice and the rightful stewardship of heritage.

The Global Fight for Artefacts: India's Repatriation Push

India has become increasingly active in seeking the return of its cultural heritage from abroad. In recent years, India's administration has effectively enabled the repatriation of numerous antiquities, particularly from the United States. A Cultural Property Agreement signed with the USA in July 2024 aims to enhance cooperation in protecting cultural heritage and preventing illicit trafficking. Since 2016, the US has returned hundreds of artefacts to India. Furthermore, a Parliamentary panel in India recently proposed establishing a 'Heritage Repatriation Fund'. This fund would use public-private partnerships to finance legal actions, negotiate purchases, and support the logistics of returning stolen or smuggled antiquities. The panel also recommended investing in advanced technology for provenance research and advocating for more cultural property agreements with other nations, especially former colonial powers. These efforts underscore a national commitment to reclaiming significant pieces of India's past.

International Law and Cultural Property: UNESCO and UNIDROIT

Several international conventions aim to protect cultural property and regulate its movement. The UNESCO 1970 Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property is a key instrument. It requires signatory states to take measures against the illicit trade in cultural items. India, a signatory since 1977, has used this convention in repatriation efforts. The 1995 UNIDROIT Convention on Stolen or Illegally Exported Cultural Objects provides stricter measures, requiring the return of stolen or illegally exported cultural property, even from good faith possessors, provided due diligence was not exercised by the buyer.

The 1954 Hague Convention and its protocols also address the protection of cultural property, particularly during armed conflict. India's legal notice to Sotheby's explicitly referenced these international norms, arguing the sale violated them. However, the effectiveness of these conventions often depends on national implementation and the willingness of market states to adopt robust measures.

Later Discoveries at Piprahwa

The historical significance of the Piprahwa site did not end with W.C. Peppé's 1898 excavation. In the 1970s, further archaeological work was undertaken at the Piprahwa stupa and monastic complex by the Archaeological Survey of India, led by K.M. Srivastava. These later excavations reportedly unearthed two more steatite reliquaries at a level below Peppé's find. These caskets were found within their own brick enclosures and contained only bone relics. Some scholars believe these finds further substantiate Piprahwa's claim as ancient Kapilavastu, the capital of the Sakya clan. The discovery of these additional reliquaries, potentially dating to an earlier period or re-interred by Emperor Ashoka, adds another layer to the complex history of the site. It reinforces the deep reverence afforded to the relics enshrined there over millennia. These findings also highlight that Peppé's excavation may not have reached the earliest deposits within the ancient stupa.

What Next for the Piprahwa Gems? An Uncertain Future

Since the Sotheby's sale is now delayed without a new date, the immediate fate of the Piprahwa gems hangs in the balance. India's administration has clearly stated its stance: it considers the items sacred, inalienable heritage that must be returned to India. Sotheby's stated the postponement allows for discussions between the involved parties. Through Chris Peppé, the Peppé family had previously expressed a desire for a "fair and transparent" transfer to Buddhists. Whether these discussions will lead to repatriation, a private sale to a Buddhist institution, donation, or another outcome remains unknown.

The case has undeniably shone a powerful spotlight on the complex interplay of religious sanctity, colonial history, private ownership, and national heritage claims. It serves as a potent reminder of the enduring sensitivities surrounding items of deep cultural and spiritual meaning, and the continuing worldwide conversation concerning their appropriate location globally. The resolution of this dispute will be closely watched  by cultural  institution, religious  communities, and governments worldwide.