French auctioneer defies Mexico with sale of pre-Columbian artefacts

A stone kneeling figure of Aztec water goddess Chalchiuhtlicue, one of pre-Columbian artefacts, is presented to the press at Drouot auction house in Paris, France, September 18, 2019. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier

PARIS (Reuters) - French auction house Millon denied accusations by the Mexican government that a sale of dozens of pre-Columbian artefacts was illegal and proceeded with an auction on Wednesday.

Mexico's foreign ministry on Tuesday said that 95 of the 120 pieces on auction appear to be from Mexican cultures, including the emblematic pre-Columbian city of Teotihuacan, as well as the Olmeca and Maya cultures.