(ANSA) - Cagliari, November 27 - A Sardinian politician said
Thursday that islanders have won an early victory in their fight
to prevent a New York auction house from selling an ancient
mother goddess icon that could be worth up to $1.2 million.
Mauro Pili, who is heading a campaign to stop what he calls
the "robbery of the heritage and civilization of Sardinia", said
that the auction of Dea Madre had been scheduled for December
11, but has been stopped.
He wants the marble goddess, which dates from about 4500 BC
and whose price range extends from $400,000 up to $1.2 million,
returned to Sardinia.
The battle against "archaeological theft" has reached "a
decisive point" in stopping a "shameful" auction, said Pili.
The idol had been listed for auction at Christie's in New
York City's Rockefeller Plaza.
Sardinian says he has stopped auction of 4,500-year-old idol
Item was to be sold by Christie's for up to $1.2 million