For the past 600 years, she has been feted as a national heroine for driving the English out of France. Now Joan of Arc is again at the heart of a furious row between Europe’s oldest enemies.
A gold-plated silver ring believed to have been owned by the French martyr, who defeated the English before being burned at the stake, was sold last month at auction in London for nearly £300,000 (CAD $556,383). Given to Joan by her parents for her first communion, it was seized from her prison at her death in 1431 by a bishop and taken to England, where it stayed until this year.
http://news.nationalpost.com/news/world/british-demand-return-of-symbolic-ring-stolen-from-joan-of-arc-and-taken-to-england-after-buyer-brings-it-back-to-france
The French, however, won a tense bidding battle over the relic, whose pre-sale estimate was only £10,000 (CAD $18,547).
To mark the trinket’s triumphant return, the owners of Le Puy du Fou historically-themed amusement park who bought the ring staged a lavish ceremony on Sunday before 5,000 people near Nantes in western France.
Philippe de Villiers, the founder of Puy de Fou, told the crowd before a rousing rendition of La Marseillaise: “It’s a little bit of France that has returned. The ring has come back to France and will stay here.” But the entrepreneur and politician then revealed there was a new twist to the saga.
He explained: “The British government has sent our lawyer an unprecedented demand — the return of the ring to London. We are told that the National Arts Council considers this ring part of those objects with, and I quote, ‘High national symbolic value’ and should have been part of a special legislation.”
According to the demand, on purchasing the ring Le Puy de Fou should have obtained an export licence necessary under European regulations.
The U.K. has strict guidelines for exporting items of national and historical importance, and requires a licence for any antiques that are worth more than £39,219 and have been in the country for more than 50 years. Obtaining the licence is the responsibility of the exporter, not the auction house.
If the licence is deferred, a U.K. buyer has an opportunity to match the price.
Brett Hammond, the managing director of auction house TimeLine, told Art Newspaper: “We handed over the ring to the buyer’s solicitors in London on March 3. We also gave them a letter, which they signed for, advising them the ring would need an export licence.”
A spokeswoman for Arts Council England, which oversees the export regulations, said: “Given the age and price of the item, its export would require an individual licence.”
De Villiers’ son, Nicolas, who runs the theme park, confirmed on Monday that he had received a letter asking to send back the ring. But he said: “It is inconceivable that the ring leaves France or is put back on the market for a British buyer to put in another bid.”
He claimed Joan of Arc was “one of the last bones of contention between France and England” and the ring’s return was an act of “appeasement.”
Any attempt to reclaim it move would be “deeply traumatic for France” he said and added: “We are simply putting history to rights.”
Nicolas de Villiers said the ring had been paid for through private donations, varying from €20 (CAD $30) to €50,000 (CAD $73,173).
His father, a prominent conservative, reiterated that there was no question of handing it over.
“Is the ring part of England’s national heritage?” he asked the crowd, which booed loudly. And then cheers erupted when he asked if it was part of France’s heritage.
Philippe de Villiers claimed that he had checked the rules and insisted they applied only if the object is taken out of the European Union.
And in a final flourish, he stated: “Ladies and gentlemen from Britain, if you want to see the ring, come to Le Puy de Fou. For the rest, it’s too late. The ring has returned to France and here it will stay. Even if the European Commission orders it back.”
A teenage peasant-girl-turned-war-commander, Joan of Arc did her best to defeat English forces who had invaded France. She was captured, tried for heresy and burnt at the stake in Rouen.
I swear to god, the British require a license for fucking EVERYTHING. If they're not considered a caricature of themselves yet, this is surely nudging them in that direction.
>>32383
Meanwhile the english museums of natural history remains filled with artefacts looted from tombs all over the world.
That said, If France wants the ring they should also ship Mona Lisa back to italy
>>32408
Need a license to be a caricature anon.
>>32429
Do you realize that Mona Lisa was sold to Francis I by either Da Vinci or one of his students, in France, 500 years ago, way before Italy was a country ?
I don't think it's a comparable circumstance
Brits have museum full of centuries of stolen art
They can deal with it
>>32408
That's a pretty common requirement for basically everywhere, you realise? Because it follows UNESCO conventions.
>give it back
Fuck the frogs. Keep it.
>>32617
They also want to start destroying any historic firearms in museums. Historical artifacts aren't safe in Britain.
>>32650
No they don't.
Anybody know what the symbols mean?
>>32383
fuck england, it belongs in france.
>>32387
>A spokeswoman for .. England, said: .. would require .. licence.”
fuck the english and their licenses. This is sthe land of the tv license lmao. Why don't the french just take it back?
>>32383
Seem more valuable to the French than the English. They should keep it.
>>34096
This is why we want out of eu, It is the only fucking country in europe that follows european law while the rest of europe takes it as a guide to ruling.
