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1h ago

Christie's Suspends Pascaline Auction After Court Blocks Export From France

The judge said the 17th‑century device is likely to qualify as a national treasure, prompting a prohibition on its exit pending a full review.

Une Pascaline dite d'arpentage, machine à calculer inventée par Blaise Pascal, est exposée le 11 septembre 2025 à Paris chez Christie's en vue de sa vente aux enchères
Quelques details de La Pascaline créée par Blaise Pascal et présentée chez Christie's à Paris, le 11 septembre 2025 This model, the only one known to have been used for calculating land surveys, is expected to change hands for between €2 millions and €3 millions.

Overview

  • The Paris administrative court provisionally suspended the export certificate and barred the Pascaline from leaving France pending a merits ruling that could take months.
  • The court found the machine, built in 1642 by Blaise Pascal, is susceptible to national‑treasure status, which legally blocks export authorization.
  • Christie's halted the Paris sale scheduled for November 19, citing the court decision and instructions from the owner.
  • Associations and researchers filed an emergency appeal to secure national‑treasure protection rather than to stop the auction itself.
  • Only nine Pascalines are known worldwide, and the example at issue is the sole land‑surveying model capable of calculating feet, toises and inches.