Law, crime and regulation

MADAM – As I read the ‘Fees proposal for ivory exemptions’ story (front page, ATG No 2484), I was overwhelmed by an attack of the Victor Meldrews.

BADA Ltd, the organiser of The Open Art Fair, has lost an appeal against a small claims court ruling that said two dealers need pay only part of their stand fee as the event was cut short.

The UK government is proposing a fee structure to cover the costs of processing antiques that qualify as exemptions under the 2018 Ivory Act.

For those who have studied or have even a passing interest in the field of art crime, Charles (or Charley) Hill was one of the giants in the world of recovering stolen masterpieces – from Munch’s 'The Scream' to Vermeer and Goya and many more.

MADAM – Re ‘EU propose ban on import and export of antique ivory’, front page, ATG No 2480.

Police are investigating the provenance of a collection of Japanese ivories in connection with a high-value burglary in Surrey.

The UK government has confirmed to ATG that it has “no plans to make changes to either the rates of Artist’s Resale Right that are applied or how the levy operates” following the post-Brexit trade deal agreed with the EU.

MADAM – We are concerned about the imminent imposition of restrictions to limit the trade of ivory works of art within the European Union (front page, ATG No 2480).

Brexit, CITES, new ivory act on the way… it can be hard for the UK art and antiques trade to keep up with the many regulations. However, the good news is that much of CITES has not changed fundamentally, as this update from expert Kim McDonald of The Taxidermy Law Company reveals

A Roman floor panel sold at auction in 2018 and then to an international buyer will be reunited with two other fragments from the same mosaic after a successful fundraising appeal to keep it in the UK.

New proposals by the European Commission to prevent the commercial export and import of most antiques containing ivory have been described by The British Antique Dealers Association (BADA) as “hugely damaging and disproportionate”.

A row has erupted over the circumstances surrounding the auction of a collection of Modern British art in Derbyshire in December.

MADAM – I do not see the controversy around ARR within the art market going away as long as it is in existence – because its existence is so peculiar.

Case shows how confidentiality cannot always be completely relied on