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Paris Court Blocks Export of Rare 1642 Pascaline, Forcing Christie's to Halt Auction

The provisional order creates time for a potential national‑treasure classification as a full administrative review moves forward.

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.
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Overview

  • The Tribunal administratif de Paris suspended the Culture Ministry's export certificate and temporarily barred the Pascaline from leaving France, citing its potential national‑treasure status.
  • Christie's suspended the November 19 sale in Paris at the owner's request while awaiting the final ruling from the administrative court.
  • The machine is the only known arpentage model among nine surviving Pascalines, with a public estimate of €2–3 million and provenance from the heirs of collector Léon Parcé.
  • The export certificate had been granted in May 2025 following favorable opinions from experts at the CNAM and the Louvre, a decision the court said faces serious legal doubt.
  • Scientists and heritage groups now urge the Culture Ministry to initiate a national‑treasure procedure that would block export and enable museums and donors to assemble funding to keep the object in France.