Tag Archives: cultural objects

UK to repeal import prohibition derived from EU law

Posted on: May 25, 2021 by Alexander Herman

The UK government last week began the process to repeal a prohibition on the import of cultural goods unlawfully removed from their country of origin. Seeing as this repeal could potentially damage the reputation of the UK’s art market, one expert body is urging the UK to take additional measures to minimise any risks associated […]

Pontormo portrait now stuck in export limbo

Posted on: February 20, 2017 by Alexander Herman

A 16th century painting by Jacopo Pontormo, Portrait of a Young Man in a Red Cap, which had been subject to an export deferral beginning in December 2015, is now stuck in cultural export limbo. This is because the owner of the portrait, American billionaire J. T. Hill, has refused a matching offer from a British institution, The National Gallery, […]

New EU Directive on return of cultural objects now implemented

Posted on: January 12, 2016 by Alexander Herman

As of last month, the UK has brought into force the necessary regulations to implement the 2014/60 EU Directive on the return of cultural objects unlawfully removed from the territory of a Member State. In fact, the deadline for all EU Member States to bring about this change in their national law was 18 December 2015. […]

International Art Transactions: 13 May 2015 seminar

Posted on: March 31, 2015 by Ruth Redmond-Cooper

On Wednesday 13 May 2015 from 2-5.30 pm there will be an Institute of Art & Law seminar in association with Maurice Turnor Gardner LLP held at the firm’s London offices in Milton Street EC2Y 9BH. The seminar will explore the legal issues surrounding international art transactions, covering questions of title, customs duties and freeports, working with foreign […]

Further attempts at protecting Syrian heritage

Posted on: November 19, 2014 by Alexander Herman

The US Congress will soon be entertaining a Bill, proposed last Thursday, that seeks to offer protection for endangered Syrian cultural objects and that would set up a Coordinator for International Cultural Property Protection (what American cultural heritage lawyer Rick St. Hilaire calls a cultural property protection “czar”). These are of course welcome developments. The protection […]

European Directive on return of cultural goods to be updated

Posted on: May 22, 2014 by Alexander Herman

The European Council’s 1993 Directive on the return of cultural objects unlawfully removed from the territory of a Member State (93/7/EEC) will soon be recast. The proposed updated Directive was approved by the European Parliament and Council on 15 May 2014. The changes involve: Extending the scope of cultural objects covered to include all nationally designated cultural objects (not just those listed […]