An invaluable artwork by Undur Gegeen Zanabazar in the 17^th century, a rare bronze figure of Buddhist goddess Shyama Tara, was sold for 4.3 million USD at a Sotheby's auction in Paris, on December 12^th, reports Bloomberg.

In efforts to return the rare work of art to Mongolia, Minister for Education, Culture and Science L.Gantumur sent a request to delay the auction to Sotheby’s France Chief Executive Officer Guillaume Cerutti.

The letter from the Mongolian Minister explained that the Shyama Tara might have been smuggled from Mongolia illegally and asked the auction house to clarify the origin of the work. The letter also stated that Mongolia has had a law in place since 1920 prohibiting the sale of historical and cultural heritage.

Sotheby's says that the artwork was acquired from Jean-Claude Moreau-Gobard, who reportedly purchased it in Paris in 1954.