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.


ATG Lawyer Writes V3 JPG

A lawyer writes: Stolen items – it’s wise to know your limitations

18 September 2023

Ownership claims can rest on a six-year restriction and proving good faith

Chris Marinello and Dr Jonathan Oates

Stolen Martinware bird returned to museum after 15 years

14 September 2023

A third stolen Martinware bird has been recovered more than 15 years after it was stolen in west London.

Needle case

Police appeal after antiques stolen from retired Merseyside dealer

06 September 2023

Valuable antiques and jewellery were stolen from a former dealer’s home in Rainford, St Helens and the police are appealing for help.

British Museum

British Museum ‘is being unfair to the trade’ by not releasing list of missing items

04 September 2023

Demands are growing in the antiquities trade for the British Museum to publish a list of objects stolen in an alleged theft from its collection by a member of staff.

Brutus Eid Mar-type gold aureus

Roma Numismatics director Richard Beale admits coin charges

04 September 2023

Richard Beale, director of the London auction house Roma Numismatics, has pleaded guilty to a series of charges in connection with unlawful sales of ancient coins.

British Museum A 2607NE

Trade concerns grow after British Museum items ‘offered on eBay’

28 August 2023

Concerns have been raised in the antiquities trade that items allegedly stolen from the British Museum by a staff member and offered on eBay may start emerging on the wider market.

British Museum

British Museum director resigns and apologises in wake of thefts

25 August 2023

British Museum director Hartwig Fischer has announced that he will be stepping down from his position with immediate effect after a series of thefts emerged.

Miniature of Thomas Cromwell

Hever Castle reissues plea for return of miniatures stolen 20 years ago

23 August 2023

Twenty years ago a man walked into Anne Boleyn’s bedroom at Hever Castle and stole five miniature portraits from a glass vitrine cabinet.

Doucai 'chicken cup'

Police appeal for stolen Ming dynasty Chinese doucai cup

22 August 2023

The Metropolitan Police is offering a Serious Crime Reward of up to £10,000 for information leading to the recovery of a Ming Dynasty cup stolen in 2019 but still missing.

Amedeo Modigliani picture

Impact of art dealer's collapse revealed by administrators

21 August 2023

Nearly 50 people are hoping to reclaim pictures they had consigned to failed art gallery Trinity House Paintings.

British Museum

Investigation launched after gold jewellery and gemstones stolen from British Museum

17 August 2023

The British Museum is investigating the theft of jewellery and has dismissed a member of staff following the discovery that items from its “collection were found to be missing, stolen or damaged”.

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Liner launcher mallet exempted from ivory trade ban

14 August 2023

The ivory-made launching mallet and silver casket from the ill-fated RMS Empress of Ireland came for sale at McTear’s (24% buyer’s premium) in Glasgow.

Adams Antiques Fairs

Fairs boost security amid thefts alert

07 August 2023

Market and fair organisers have told ATG they are bolstering security following a spate of recent thefts targeting the jewellery trade.

Sheila Hancock

Plea to help trace missing necklaces

29 July 2023

The antiques and jewellery trade are being asked to look out for a necklace lost by actress and author Dame Sheila Hancock and a locket stolen from a 91-year-old woman.

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Dealer calls on trade and public to aid recovery of stolen Asian art

27 July 2023

JAN Fine Art has asked that the art and antiques trade be aware of two thefts made at its Kensington Church Street, London, premises.

Tapestry

Funds needed to buy Henry VIII tapestry to return it to UK

24 July 2023

A previously lost tapestry, commissioned by Henry VIII for Hampton Court during the turmoil of the English Reformation, is a step closer to returning to the UK for public display.

Ryedale Hoard

New Treasure Act rules take effect this month

24 July 2023

New laws introduced under the Treasure Act take effect from July 30, in a bid for more antiquities finds to be bought by museums.

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Album revealing roots of Kew gardens is on export hold

24 July 2023

A group of drawings which helped develop the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew have been temporarily blocked from export in the hope a UK buyer can step in.

Hardstone brooch

Plea to help locate stolen antique jewellery

20 July 2023

Two antique jewellery dealers are calling on the trade to help locate around £50,000 worth of jewellery that has been stolen in London.

Giacometti chandelier

UK buyers sought for Giacometti bronze chandelier and 18th-century botanical drawings

18 July 2023

A Giacometti chandelier and drawings which helped develop Kew Gardens have been blocked from export in the hope a UK institution will raise funding.

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