Sotheby’s withdraws Sikh body armour from auction

By IANS

London : Sotheby’s auction house Monday withdrew from auction a body armour after protests from Sikh groups.

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The 18th century armour, estimated at 10-12,000 pounds, became controversial after some Sikh cultural experts claimed it might have belonged to the 10th Sikh Guru, Gobind Singh.

The London auctioneers later clarified that it did not belong to Guru Gobind Singh.

Sotheby’s nevertheless said it was withdrawing the item from the April 9 auction at the request of the seller, who wanted it acquired by a member of the Sikh community.

“Sotheby’s has been asked by the consignor to arrange the acquisition of the lot by a suitable member of the Sikh community,” Sotheby’s spokesman Simon Warren said in a statement.