Mexico has demanded that Sotheby's withdraws items of pre-Columbian art from its sale of the Barbier-Mueller Collection, due to be held in Paris today (March 22).

This large and important Chupicuaro 'Venus' figure will sell for an estimated $3.8m if it is not returned to Mexico

Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History contacted the French foreign ministry to prevent the auction taking place, after experts discovered that 51 items from the 300 lot sale were archaeological artefacts belonging to Mexico.

However, Sotheby's has stated that the auction will go ahead as planned, although it remains to be seen if those particular items will be withdrawn.

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