The ancient Greeks created the relics of the past, but Sotheby’s claims the future, at least with respect to one treasured antiquity. Engaging a novel strategy, Sotheby’s proactively filed suit against Greece’s Ministry of Culture and Sports of the Hellenic Republic seeking a declaration that Greece does not own a Corinthian-style, bronze figure of a horse dating from 900–700 B.C.E., which Sotheby’s hoped to sell at auction. The Metropolitan Museum of Art describes a similar bronze horse figure in its collection as epitomizing the “clarity and elegance” of the Greek Geometric age “at its most accomplished.”

The case is reported as the first time an auction house has pursued a determination of ownership against a government. Sotheby’s filed the action in conjunction with the Barnet Family Trust. The trust hired Sotheby’s to sell the bronze horse at auction. Sotheby’s prepared marketing and promotional materials advertising the sale of the bronze horse, prompting the Ministry of Culture to send a letter demanding its repatriation to Greece. Sotheby’s and the trust responded with their lawsuit. The court appointed Sotheby’s as a substitute custodian pending a resolution.