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 City says no need to publicise lot guarantees

16 May 2022

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.

Silver spoons

Farnham antiques centre targeted by thieves

12 May 2022

A Farnham antiques centre is hoping to track down items stolen after a break in last week.

Statue 2

ATG letter: Nicosia Convention – my thoughts on how it could tackle cultural goods trafficking

09 May 2022

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

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ATG letter: Artist's Resale Right is big factor behind the UK's decline

02 May 2022

Your report that the UK’s share of the global art market has declined blames VAT and Brexit for this (ATG No 2537), but fails to mention the effect of Artist's Resale Right which is probably the real reason for the current decline.

Charles Darwin’s ‘Tree of Life’ notebook

‘Happy Easter’ after Darwin books returned

11 April 2022

The book trade has called for institutions to be more proactive in reporting missing items after two notebooks belonging to Charles Darwin were mysteriously returned to Cambridge University Library.

Michelangelo drawing at Christies

Christie’s to offer Michelangelo drawing after French export block removed

07 April 2022

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.

Ushak carpet

Plea to help find 25 stolen antique carpets after theft in Farnham

06 April 2022

The art and antiques sector has been asked to look out for carpets stolen from Farnham Antique Carpets last week.

Cezanne picture

UK buyers sought for £10m Cézanne and £11m Bernardo Bellotto which have been barred from export

05 April 2022

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.

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ATG letter: Time to free up the British art market from ARR

04 April 2022

I’d like to lend my support to Ivor Braka in his brave and principled decision to fight the parasitic bureaucracies of the ARR (front page, ATG No 2536).

Angelica Kauffman's May portrait

UK buyer needed for £1.5m pair of group portraits by artist Angelica Kauffman

02 April 2022

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.

ATG Lawyer Writes V2 JPG

A lawyer writes: How individual taste could affect ivory quality control

28 March 2022

Decisions on act exemptions inevitably run the risk of subjective assessments

Ivor Braka

Art dealer Ivor Braka hits back at artist resale rights groups' legal action against him

22 March 2022

Art dealer Ivor Braka has spoken out over legal action being taken against him jointly by The Artists’ Collecting Society (ACS) and the Design and Artists Copyright Society (DACS).

Sotheby's

Russia Week axed after new sanctions

21 March 2022

In the wake of new sanctions on Russia, auction houses Sotheby’s, Christie’s and Bonhams have cancelled sales of Russian art in London scheduled for June.

CINOA: ‘The wave after wave of damaging legislation has to stop’

21 March 2022

The art market is being unfairly targeted with restrictions and regulations over stolen cultural property according to its most senior trade federation.

Police plea for return of stolen medals from Colchester museum

19 March 2022

Essex Police and Hollytrees Museum in Colchester are hoping to recover five 19th century medals stolen in a burglary earlier this month.

Defra

Early June date set for Ivory Act to be enforced

17 March 2022

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced the Ivory Act 2018 will be enforced on June 6.

Russian art auctions cancelled in wake of new sanctions

16 March 2022

In the wake of new sanctions on Russia, Sotheby’s and Christie’s have both said they are cancelling auctions of Russian art scheduled for June.

Omai

Reynolds' portrait of Omai given £50m price tag and barred from export for a third time

15 March 2022

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

Lute music manuscript

UK government blocks 17th century lute music collection from leaving the country

15 March 2022

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.

US dealers challenge New York antique ivory regulations

14 March 2022

The ivory regulations of New York State will be reviewed by New York court judges following an appeal brought by two US antique dealer associations.

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