The great restitutionist Colin Renfrew, better known perhaps as Lord Renfrew of Kaimsthorn, has recently written a piece in the Art Newspaper on the return of seven of the fifteen pieces of the Sevso Treasure. This story was first commented on in this blog here.

Renfrew was careful to explain the tricky situation regarding the ownership of the pieces: ‘It is important to note that the [New York] judge did not rule that the marquess was the legal owner, simply that neither Hungary nor Croatia had demonstrated good title.’

The same cannot be said of counsel to the Marquess of Northampton, who, according to Renfrew, has recently stated his opinion that the Marquess continues to the be owner of the remaining pieces, and this despite the fact that the New York court refused to come to such a conclusion.

Clearly, the matter is not settled…