WorldcrunchValérie De Senneville is French journalist who writes for the Paris-based business daily Les Echos
It’s a miraculous story: 35 years ago, Yves Saint Laurent dressed a statue of Mary nestled in a small chapel between Neuilly and Paris. An unlikely stunning outfit of the 1980s, the haute couture icon was forgotten until the Metropolitan Museum of Art rediscovered it.
After more than 30 years, the “Golden Owl” has been found, ending frantic quests by thousands of players from around the world that involved wild excavations, low blows and even lawsuits. Based on mysterious clues from a book, this treasure hunt turned into a flourishing business, while keeping thousands of hunters hooked over decades.