Law, crime and regulation

Referring to the UK’s near-total ban on selling antique ivory objects, would the beautiful Vizagatapam, India, c.1830-50, ivory chess set in the collection of Mr Holger Langer (Collector Interview, ATG No 2550) be classed as museum quality?

A suite of solid ivory and gilt furniture sold by Christie’s on July 7 appears to be the first auction lot to benefit from the exemption to the Ivory Act allowing the sale of items of ‘outstandingly high artistic, cultural and historical value’.

An expert view on how post-Ukraine invasion restrictions are giving the art market plenty to think about

The US, UK, EU and other countries have directed a slew of sanctions and restrictive measures at Russia which have seen the closure, suspension or quietening down of operations in Russia by international banks and companies, including some major international auction houses.

The Chinese government has written to a UK auction house to demand a halt to the sale of a silver hunting flask, taken from the Summer Palace when it was sacked by British troops in 1860 during the Second Opium War.

Thieves hit TEFAF Maastricht last week, entering the venue and smashing a jewellery case on the stand of London’s Symbolic & Chase.

As a dealer with a number of antique ivory works of art for sale, I am now having to involve myself in conforming to the new legislation.

The Ivory Act, a near-total ban on the sale of antique ivory, comes into force in the UK on June 6.

Portrait miniature on ivory are among the exemptions provided in the new Ivory Act [coming into force on June 6 – see front page of this issue].

Focus on how judges assess when art and antiques cases need special evidence

Auction houses will no longer be legally required to publicise guarantees on artworks sold in New York City when a repeal of business regulations goes ahead next month.

The Council of Europe Convention on Offences relating to Cultural Property (also known as the ‘Nicosia’ Convention) entered into force on April 1.