Law, crime and regulation

The value of exports of antiques from Britain to the US may have fallen by as much as 49% since US President Donald Trump began his tariff announcements in April 2025.

That ‘cabinet in the corner’ in a house clearance might cause disputes

Martin Levy’s plea for the Ivory Act to be ‘phased out’ (Letters, ATG No 2729) deserves full support from all quarters – dealers, auctioneers and collectors.

Artist’s Resale Right [ARR] is illogical, causes unnecessary unemployment and should be abolished immediately.

Almost a quarter of a million pounds in fines have been issued to art dealers and auction houses by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) in the six months to September 30, 2025.

Twenty-five artworks have been listed as missing and registered with the Art Loss Register (ALR) following the administration of Trinity House Paintings.

Further to your excellent report on the Ivory Act (‘Dealers outraged at report claiming benefits of the Ivory Act nearly four years on’, News, ATG No 2728), may I perhaps go further?

Antiques dealers have described the Ivory Act as a “vast amount of expensive, time-consuming red tape” which has, for one, “taken away 50% of annual turnover”.

Norfolk auction house TW Gaze has secured permission to sell an Edo period ivory netsuke in the spring.

Among the reasons for the introduction of the UK's Ivory Act was to encourage other nations to bring in their own restrictions. However, little evidence has emerged so far that it has had this effect.

The law on using such photos was put under the spotlight in a recent judgment