Law, crime and regulation

Legal cases, stolen art, regulation and tax issues remain important part of the art and antiques sector.

This category ranges from the levy of the Artist’s Resale Right to controversies over fakes and forgeries.


Jade collection

News In Brief – including the conviction of a family behind the theft of Chinese jades

13 September 2021

A round-up of art and antiques news from the previous seven days, including an update on the theft of £1.7m of Chinese jades.

Anglo Saxon brooch

Stolen Anglo-Saxon brooch returned to museum after 26 years

11 September 2021

An Anglo-Saxon brooch stolen from Rutland County Museum has been returned 26 years after it went missing.

S Franses

Textile dealer victorious again: costs of court case to be paid by landlord

26 August 2021

Following a long running legal dispute between textile dealer S Franses in Jermyn Street, London and its landlord, Capitaland, presiding Judge Parfitt ordered the landlord to pay the costs of the case.

CCTV images

Valuable watches stolen in ‘brazen theft’ at Cheshire antiques centre

19 August 2021

Cheshire Police has issued CCTV images of two men they would like to speak to in connection with a theft at an antiques centre in Northwich.

ATG letter: Money laundering, due diligence – am I allowed to be confused?

16 August 2021

I read with great interest, and trepidation, the article for 'A Lawyer Writes' in ATG no 2504 (‘Diligence: relying on others leaves you at risk’).

Stolen jewellery

Antique jewellery stolen from Yorkshire heritage centre

10 August 2021

Police are alerting the trade and the public to look out for stolen jewellery after a burglary at the Elsecar Heritage Centre in Barnsley.

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Eugène Boudin painting sparks ownership mystery

09 August 2021

The status of a Eugène Boudin (1824-98) painting stolen 30 years ago from a Mayfair dealership is currently in limbo while the rightful owner is sought.

ATG Lawyer Writes.png

A lawyer writes: Due diligence – relying on others leaves you at risk

09 August 2021

A lawyer writes: Leaving client checks to others as an art market participant can be tricky

RSPB medal

Plea for help to recover late artist’s medals stolen from Macclesfield museum

05 August 2021

Two medals awarded to the late artist Charles Tunnicliffe (1901-79) were stolen when The Silk Museum in Macclesfield was burgled earlier this week.

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British antiques restorer arrested and investigated in US court case

27 July 2021

The Manhattan district attorney’s office is investigating a multi-million-pound Asian antiquities ‘trafficking ring’ and has arrested a British antiques restorer as part of the case.

DH Lawrence’s novel Lady Chatterley's Lover

A dozen ‘national treasures’ saved for the nation after export licence blocks

21 July 2021

A dozen items deemed national treasures were bought by institutions between May 2018 and April 2020 with a value of £7.6m, according to the latest report.

Defra

Government launches consultation on extending antique ivory ban to hippos, narwhals, walruses and whales

20 July 2021

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has launched a consultation on extending the near-total ban on the antique ivory trade.

Dr Elena Greer with tortoises

A slow recovery: stolen tortoises resurface after 29 years

19 July 2021

Four Victorian bronze tortoises stolen from National Trust property Kingston Lacy in Dorset have been recovered nearly 30 years later.

Kempton

England relaxes coronavirus restrictions but recommendations remain in place

14 July 2021

The UK government has confirmed that from July 19 in England many of the coronavirus restrictions will be relaxed.

Leonardo drawing

One Leonardo sold, another caught up in a court battle

12 July 2021

Two Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) drawings created national news last week as Christie’s posted a record for a sketch by the great master in London while a court in Paris is to determine whether another can be legally exported from France.

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Warning over Brexit effect on British hallmarking

12 July 2021

The British Hallmarking Council (BHC) is to raise concerns with the government about the impact of Brexit on antique gold and silver exports into the EU.

Royal Mail advice

New VAT rules for EU imports take effect this month

08 July 2021

New VAT rules have been put in place by the European Union for distance selling.

Picasso and Mondrian paintings stolen in Greek art theft returned

01 July 2021

Two paintings stolen from Greece's National Gallery in 2012 have been recovered and a builder has confessed to the crime, according to Reuters.

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London dealer hails victory in six-year legal battle over St James’s lease

28 June 2021

“We want art and antiques galleries to know that this area is now affordable," says dealer S Franses after High Court victory

Italy seeks to open its art market with export threshold changes

28 June 2021

The export of Italian art has become easier following changes made to the country’s cultural laws.

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