RE: [Ancientartifacts] Re: The Unidroit Convention (Rome) 1995

Apologies that everyone hardly ever hears from me, I do monitor the emails and everyone else does such an excellent job of responding there is seldom anything for me to add.  However, I can add some information to this and suggest a good place to start is the Art Loss Register (www.artloss.com) – they are based both in London and New York if you think you might have an issue and they will also assist with International law should you need advice.   Plus, they will handle the return of antiquities should you believe you have an illicit object.  Many of the antiquity dealers these days will do a search on important pieces to ensure they have not been reported as illegally obtained before offering them for sale.

 

If you really need to get down and dirty, the US has also setup the Cultural Property Investigations Department as part of Dept of Home Land Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement that specifically deals with antiquities.  For the past few years it has been run by one main agent but he tells me he is now in the process of training 52 new people!!   They believe there is a substantial amount of unmonitored illegal trafficking into the US and are setting up to deal with this in a big way soon.  The Art Loss Register will be able to assist you there too.  Rule no 1:  Check provenance.  Rule #2: search the Art Loss Register.  Rule #3:  Enjoy.

 

I cannot however help you with Europe or the UK.

 

best regards

Sue

 

Sue McGovern, President

Member, International Society of Appraisers

 

Sands of Time Antiquities

Phone:  202 342 0518   Fax:  703 997 2410

email:  sue@sandsoftimedc.com

 

3003 P St NW, Washington  DC  20007

Hours:  Tuesday - Saturday  10am - 6pm

Open 24 hours:  www.sandsoftimedc.com

 

From: Ancientartifacts@yahoogroups.com [mailto:Ancientartifacts@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of rolf5568
Sent: Saturday, May 31, 2008 12:50 PM
To: Ancientartifacts@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Ancientartifacts] Re: The Unidroit Convention (Rome) 1995

 

Hi Trevor,

In short, I think the answer to your question would be that the
convention does not define an individual nation's laws of export
(which was Steve's question). I think it sets out to define
unilaterally acceptable agreements on how to make an application for
the return of an "illicit" object and to define legal grounds for
prosecution/extradition of the owner/handler of an item which is in
dispute.
But before anyone corrects me I would like to state that I've not
read it entirely, so please be gentle when you put me straight! :-)

Rolf

--- In Ancientartifacts@yahoogroups.com, <ursa_one@...> wrote:
>
> Hi,
>
> just a question.....for you and Rolf.
>
> > As for contacting various cultural ministries. Did that years ago.
> > Most never replied, those that did sent me links to endless pages
> > about the import/export of modern goods.
>
> >> I don't think anyone knows the definitive answer to your
questions!
> >>
> >> If you want to know about a specific country's cultural property
> >> laws I recommend you contact that nation's appropriate ministry
or
> >> government department rather than rely on internet pages which
may
> >> be out of date or inaccurate.
>
> So where does the Unidroit Convention of 1995 come into this mix?
>
> Trevor
>

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