Munster, 16 July 2013
Munster’s Administrative Court rendered an unfavourable decision in regards to Mexico’s request concerning the restitution of 25 pre-Columbian archaeological pieces sold on auction in June 2012 by auction house Lempertz. Therefore, the pieces that were sold will soon be given to their buyers.
Mexico’s claim was based on a German law that was passed on 26 April 2007, stating that restitution can be granted when cultural goods are sold illegally. But the Administrative Court’s decision recalled that this law is not retroactive and cannot be applied for objects that entered Germany before 2007. In accordance, contentious objects from private collections that have been part of these collections for a great number of years cannot be restored.