Mexico wants artifacts in Bonhams auction back

The Mexican government said on Friday that a quarter of the pre-Hispanic artifacts listed for sale in a Bonhams auction catalog are fakes and that it will take legal steps to win the return of the other, genuine artifacts.

Bonhams' New York auction scheduled for Wednesday includes about 155 sculptures, ceramic vessels and other artifacts from the Aztec, Mayan and other cultures.

Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History said on Friday it had asked Bonhams to withdraw the pieces. It added it plans legal measures to recover the genuine ones.