Law, crime and regulation

Legal cases, stolen art, regulation and tax issues remain important part of the art and antiques sector.

This category ranges from the levy of the Artist’s Resale Right to controversies over fakes and forgeries.


New York

Dealer involved in $80m New York art forgery scandal sentenced

02 February 2017

A judge has ruled that the New York art dealer involved in the $80m forgery scandal that brought down the Knoedler gallery will not serve further prison time.

Museum of Modern Art Paris

French dealer claims he destroyed $100m of paintings from 'Spider-Man' art theft

01 February 2017

A co-defendant of the accused art thief known as 'Spider-Man' told a court room in France he had destroyed five paintings worth more than $100m.

Write to MP

COMMENT: economics rather than heritage will persuade MPs to heed the antiques trade on ivory

31 January 2017

At ATG’s Seminar on CITES, Victoria Borwick MP started the ball rolling on our consultation with the government on ivory in a traditional way – by calling on the trade to write to their local MPs.

Parliament

Calls for industry to ‘respond in numbers’ to ivory consultation

30 January 2017

The survey that will kick off the government’s consultation into the UK ivory trade is expected to be launched this week, and is open to all to give their views.

Petworth stolen

Petworth antiques dealer's appeal over shop theft

27 January 2017

Petworth dealer Tony Wilkinson is calling on the trade to help him track down a pair of stolen Regency lustres.

Europol seized goods

Thousands of artefacts and cultural goods seized in Europe-wide police operation

27 January 2017

A suspected art smuggling ring has been busted after Europol and police across 18 countries helped seize 3561 works of art and cultural goods.

ATG CITES seminar A 2276BP 24-01-17 - Copy.jpg

Slideshow: see who attended the ATG Seminar on CITES on 19 January

25 January 2017

One of the largest-ever gatherings of auctioneers and dealers last week heard calls for a unified and proactive approach to the forthcoming government consultation on the UK ivory trade. See here for snaps from the day

Ceri Richards

Man charged in north London gallery theft

20 January 2017

A man has been charged in connection with the theft of a painting by Welsh modern artist Ceri Richards from Belsize Park gallery Sylvester Fine Art and will be tried later this month.

EU in Brussels

Art and antiques trade welcomes clarity from Theresa May's Brexit speech

18 January 2017

Prime Minister Theresa May laid out the government’s Brexit plan this week giving some clarity on how it will leave the European Union.

Saint Jerome painting

Sotheby’s sues vendor of Italian Old Master as ‘fakes scandal’ reaches court

17 January 2017

Sotheby’s is taking legal action to recover its losses over the sale of a ‘fake’ Italian Old Master.

Paris scene 2275NEDI 12-01-17.jpg

Dealer Guy Wildenstein cleared of tax fraud after Paris criminal trial

12 January 2017

Art dealer Guy Wildenstein has been cleared of tax fraud in a surprise verdict following a criminal trial in Paris.

Gold ring

Surrey Police call on antiques trade to help track down stolen Victorian ring

10 January 2017

Police are appealing to the antiques trade to look out for a rose gold Victorian ring that was among a collection of jewellery stolen from a home in Godalming, Surrey.

Trade believes antiques are exempt from new Chinese ivory ban

03 January 2017

Antiques trade leaders are hopeful that China’s newly-announced plan to impose a total ban on the ivory trade in the country will exclude antique ivory.

The Advertising Standards Authority

Advertising Standards Authority says auctioneers ‘should be clearer on fees’

03 January 2017

The Advertising Standards Authority has said auctioneers need to be clearer when presenting their commission rates.

Thérèse Coffey

Government will crackdown on sales of ivory less than 70 years old from March

22 December 2016

The government consultation on the ivory trade will kick off in the new year with plans to begin the crackdown on ivory dated post-1947 from March.

The Advertising Standards Authority

Advertising Standards Authority rules on the display of auction fees

21 December 2016

The Advertising Standards Authority has unveiled new guidance for auctioneers following an investigation into the way auction houses display their commission rates.

Credit Cards

Regional auctioneers defend credit card charges amid pressure from campaign groups

21 December 2016

UK regional auctioneers have defended credit card fees charged to buyers amid pressure from consumer campaign groups to slash charges.

Limerick Gardai

Irish police seize libation cup in €100,000 raid

19 December 2016

A suspected antique libation cup is among €100,000 worth of goods seized during a raid in Ireland.

Wedgwood

Export bar issued for rare Wedgwood vase sold at Christie’s auction

16 December 2016

A temporary export bar has been placed on a rare Wedgwood vase in the hope £482,500 can be raised to keep it in the UK.

Suspected fraudster denies swindling elderly out of £650,000 worth of antiques

16 December 2016

A suspected antiques scammer faced court accused of taking antiques worth more than £650,000 from elderly people.

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