Franco Heirs to Auction 689 Lots from Pazo de Meirás in Madrid
On October 27, the descendants of Francisco Franco will put 689 lots from the Pazo de Meirás in Sada, Galicia, up for auction at Magna Art Auctions in Madrid. The collection features antique furniture, porcelain, and artworks, following a ruling from the Tribunal Supremo that affirmed the Spanish State's ownership of the estate, excluding its movable assets. Due to a lack of sufficient legal justification, state lawyers did not contest the auction items. The heirs took the items in July under supervision. Originally offered to Franco in 1938, the Pazo was formerly the home of novelist Emilia Pardo Bazán. In November 2024, the court acknowledged state ownership of 559 items, raising concerns about the provenance of some auctioned pieces.
Key facts
- On October 27, the heirs of Francisco Franco will auction 689 lots from the Pazo de Meirás at Magna Art Auctions in Madrid.
- The sale follows the Tribunal Supremo's recognition of the Spanish State as owner of the estate, but the ruling did not automatically cover movable property.
- State lawyers did not claim the auctioned objects due to insufficient legal grounds, according to El País.
- The Pazo de Meirás was originally the residence of novelist Emilia Pardo Bazán (1851–1921) and was offered to Franco in 1938.
- In November 2024, the Court of First Instance No. 70 of Madrid recognized State ownership of 559 items from the estate.
- The 689 lots up for auction were not claimed, and it is unclear if they overlap with the 559 items recognized as public property.
- The Pazo has been classified as a cultural heritage site since 2008 and as a democratic memory site since August 2026.
- The Tribunal Supremo granted Franco's heirs a right to compensation for maintenance and renovation expenses since 1975.
Entities
Artists
- Francisco Franco
- Emilia Pardo Bazán
- Luis Tristán
- José Miguel Carrillo de Albornoz
- José López Campos
- Anaïs Bertrand
Institutions
- Magna Art Auctions
- Tribunal Supremo
- El País
- Conseil de la culture galicienne
- Commission pour la récupération de la mémoire historique de La Corogne
- Le Journal des Arts
Locations
- Madrid
- Spain
- Sada
- Galicia
- La Coruña