Bulgaria's Culture Minister Stefan Danailov announced Christie's auctioning house lawyers have taken up the obligation to stop the auctioning of a unique treasure originating from the Balkan country.

The lawyers only asked to receive a letter from Bulgaria's chief prosecutor's office that confirms the silver dish has been discovered after illegal digs and it is under investigation.

The confirmation letter was sent on Friday, but apparently it had not arrived, so the Bulgarian authorities will send it again, Danailov said.

Christie's had announced that they would be auctioning the parcel-gilt silver dish on November 9, prompting the ministerial plea. Danailov asked in a letter for the dish to be pulled out of the auction until its origin is cleared out.

The 12th-century dish is engraved with a hunting scene and is estimated at GBP 300,000 to GBP 500,000.

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