Full Breakdown
Auction of Human Remains Pulled After Ethical Outcry
6/10/2026, 12:23:16 AM
The Planned Glasgow Auction and Its Withdrawal
Great Western Auctions, owned by Anita Manning, scheduled a lot of bones—including a skull—listed as belonging to a University of Glasgow anatomy class. After BBC contact and expert criticism, the lot was withdrawn, and the firm issued a brief statement: “The lot has been withdrawn.”
Legal and Historical Context
In the UK, selling remains older than 100 years is legal, but specimens come from exports from India (banned 1985) and China (banned 2008). Scotland’s Code of Practice forbids profit from bodies donated to medical science.
Key Stakeholders
- Anita Manning – founder of Great Western Auctions
- Dr Lauren McIntyre – specialist with the British Association for Biological Anthropology, critic of trade
- Prof Gordon Findlater – HM Inspector of Anatomy
- Great Western Auctions
Core Data
The lot, valued at £500-£800, comprised bones, including a skull, from an anatomy box. Legally, such items may be sold if over a century old, but provenance is unknown.
Criticism and Ethical Concerns
Dr McIntyre says the sale “robs the deceased of their dignity” and specimens likely stem from export rather than consented donation. Prof Findlater notes without provenance it is impossible to verify compliance with Scotland’s code, and selling donated bodies for profit would breach regulations.
Conflicting Information and Gaps
Sources differ on the bones’ age; UK law permits sales of remains older than 100 years, yet experts suspect some items may be recent. Great Western Auctions has not disclosed the origin, leaving a critical provenance gap.
Why It Matters
The case highlights tension between legal permissibility and ethical standards in the trade of human remains, prompting calls for stricter provenance documentation and regulatory review of auction practices.
Official Statements & Responses
Great Western Auctions confirmed the withdrawal after media inquiries and expert criticism, but gave no information on the specimens’ provenance or acquisition.
Verbatim Quotes
- “? She said: "The buying and selling of human remains for commercial gain robs the deceased of their dignity, and is both unethical and unacceptable in any form.” — Dr Lauren McIntyre, British Association for Biological Anthropology
- “Most medical and anatomical remains like the ones that were to go to auction in Glasgow are the product of 20th Century mass export from countries like India and China, rather than being from consenting donors.” — Dr Lauren McIntyre
- “ View 3 Images Anita Manning is a legend in the world of antiques (Image: Sunday Mail) ? Professor Gordon Findlater, HM's Inspector of Anatomy, said: "Without knowing who is selling these bones, it is impossible to know how the seller came across them.” — Prof Gordon Findlater, HM Inspector of Anatomy
- “ Great Western Auctions told the BBC: "The lot has been withdrawn.” — Great Western Auctions
Future Outlook
The unresolved provenance will likely draw further scrutiny and may prompt regulators to revisit guidelines for commercial sale of anatomical specimens in Scotland and the UK.
