Export Licences

A Michelangelo (1475-1564) drawing previously declared a ‘National Treasure’ in France will be offered at Christie’s following the expiry of its export block.

Two European pictures have been temporarily stopped from being exported from the UK in the hope buyers can be found to keep them in the country.

A pair of group portraits by artist Angelica Kauffman (1741-1807) have been temporarily blocked from export in the hope a UK buyer will pay the £1.5m needed.

A buyer in the UK is sought to pay £50m for Sir Joshua Reynolds’ (1723-92) portrait of Pacific Islander Omai.

A temporary export bar has been placed on an early 17th century manuscript of lute music in the hope a buyer in the UK can be found.

The government has placed a temporary export bar on a still-life painting by a Dutch artist in the hope a UK buyer will pay £6m to keep it in the country.

An export block has been placed on a portrait of the future King William IV painted during the American Revolutionary war, in the hope a UK buyer can be found.

The UK government has issued a temporary export bar for a rare 17th century painting depicting a black female sitter alongside her white companion.

The UK government has issued a temporary export bar for a gold finial that once adorned the throne of Tipu Sultan (1750-99).

A dozen items deemed national treasures were bought by institutions between May 2018 and April 2020 with a value of £7.6m, according to the latest report.

A rare Renaissance roundel has been temporarily blocked from export by the UK government in the hope a buyer in the UK will emerge.

A £2m pocket watch once owned by George III has been temporarily blocked from export to give a UK institution the chance to purchase it.

A group of hand-drawn Armada maps depicting a key moment in England’s history have been saved after a fundraising campaign by the Royal Navy museum.

An export block on Death of Cleopatra by Henri de Triqueti, an ivory sculpture with British royal connections, has been announced by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.