Category Archives: Restitution

Switzerland Returns Illegally Imported Terracotta Statue To China

Posted on: December 24, 2014 by Nina M. Neuhaus

The Swiss Customs Authorities at the Basel Airport discovered the 47cm tall statue in an inconspicuous parcel that was sent from the UK to a private individual in Switzerland. They immediately informed the Specialised Body for the International Transfer of Cultural Property at the Swiss Federal Office of Culture (‘Specialised Body’) of their discovery. The […]

Reactions to loan of Parthenon statue

Posted on: December 11, 2014 by Alexander Herman

It was a front page story in The Times of London last Friday. It was on the front page of the New York Times the next day. But generally, how has the reaction been to the trustees of the British Museum loaning the statue of river god Ilissus to the Hermitage in St Petersburg? To say the least, it caught […]

MacGregor on the Elgin Marbles

Posted on: November 11, 2014 by Alexander Herman

Much has been said in the media of late about the Greek claim to the Elgin Marbles. But last week came a response from the director of the British Museum, Neil MacGregor. It was written up in The Times on Friday 7 November, but is sadly unavailable online to non-subsribers. In response to the claims made […]

Gough Whitlam on the Marbles

Posted on: October 29, 2014 by Ruth Redmond-Cooper

Former Australian Prime Minister Gough Whitlam passed away last week at the age of 98. He had served as Prime Minister between 1972 to 1975, during a turbulent period of Australia’s history. He had also spoken at an Institute of Art and Law event in 2001 on the topic of the Parthenon (or Elgin) Marbles. He was […]

Athens update: Robertson, Palmer and Clooney speak

Posted on: October 16, 2014 by Alexander Herman

In the media furor surrounding this week’s visit to Athens of the London legal team advising the Greek State on the Parthenon Marbles, much has been made of a certain member of the delegation. Amal Clooney (or depending on your preference, Amal Alamuddin) has stated: “Everybody hopes there will be a friendly and amicable solution, but I […]

Robertson and Palmer advise on Parthenon Marbles

Posted on: October 14, 2014 by Alexander Herman

Barristers Geoffrey Robertson and Norman Palmer will be advising the Greek government this week in regards to the Parthenon (or Elgin) Marbles. Their visit to Greece has, for one reason or another, already received an inordinate amount of media attention, both in Greece and abroad. Robertson, Palmer and their legal team will be discussing with Greek […]

Restitution of Nazi Loot: The Max Stern Project

Posted on: October 1, 2014 by Alexander Herman

A fascinating story on the work of the Max Stern Restitution Project has appeared in the latest issue of The Walrus and is thankfully available online. The Stern Project, run out of Concordia University in Montreal, Canada has the task of reconstituting the art collection of the famed Düsseldorf dealer, Max Stern. Stern, who was Jewish, fled Nazi Germany in 1937 […]

Klimt Foundation and heir seek ‘just and fair’ solution

Posted on: September 16, 2014 by Alexander Herman

Recent reports have come out involving a 1902 portrait of Gertrud Loew by Gustav Klimt that had allegedly been taken by the Nazis in Austria from the painting’s subject and owner. Loew had left Austria for the United States in 1939 following the Anschluss of the previous year. It is unclear exactly what happened to the […]

Acts of Grace

Posted on: September 5, 2014 by Ruth Redmond-Cooper

Yesterday’s Acts of Grace seminar on the voluntary return of cultural property was held at the historic Church of St Olave in Hart Street, a jewel amidst the bustle of London’s City. Papers were presented by a variety of speakers on a variety of topics. They were as follows: The colourful story of St Olave’s by Reverend […]

Acts of Grace seminar in London tomorrow

Posted on: September 3, 2014 by Ruth Redmond-Cooper

Just a reminder that the Acts of Grace seminar on voluntary returns of cultural property will take place tomorrow between 2 pm and 5.30 pm at the Church of St Olave at Hart Street, London EC3R 7NB. It will be followed by a reception to mark the launch of ArtResolve. For more information and to book tickets, click here.