A carved mask from Central Africa, dating to the 19th century, was sold in France for 4.2 million euros ($4.6 million) on Saturday, despite Gabonese protests in the auction house calling for the item's "recovery", reported Agence France Press (AFP).
The rare wooden "Ngil" mask, used in ceremonies by the Fang people of Gabon, smashed its estimate of 300,000-400,000 euros at the auction in the southern French city of Montpellier.
