Latest News
How will the EU’s new import licensing for art and antiques affect you? Here’s a brief guide
When the new import licensing regulation for cultural goods (2019/880) comes into force in the EU on June 28, 2025, what goods will be affected from the world of art and antiques? According to the law, relevant items – all of which must have originated from outside...
Financial Action Task Force Report’s anti trade approach rings alarm bells
Just released, the Financial Action Task Force's new report, Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing in the Art and Antiquities Market, takes a highly irresponsible approach. The FATF is an independent global body investigating crime whose reports should prove key to...
Metal detectorist finds extraordinary tudor jewel
Judged to be the most important Tudor find for 25 years, the extraordinary discovery of a gold chain and pendant is linked directly to Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon
Latest Views
Where do ethics, morals and the law really lie in India’s claim to the Piprahwa gem relics?
Sotheby’s proposed sale acts as a useful study in the dispute over rights between nations and individuals when it comes to cultural property Much in the news has been Sotheby’s proposed (and then suspended) sale of the Piprahwa Gems, a collection of gem relic...
Why the World Customs Organisation’s claims about cultural goods trafficking don’t add up
The World Customs Organisation (WCO) finally seems to have all but given up when it comes to an accurate and detailed analysis of trafficking and the art market, if its 2022 and 2023 Illicit Trade Reports are anything to go by. Several wild claims of trafficking worth...
Why we must learn the lessons of the UK Post Office scandal when it comes to Cultural Property
Impending enforcement of a new EU law that is not fit for purpose risks creating serious human rights breaches The UK Post Office scandal has been a landmark of injustice that has outraged the public and politicians alike. Sub-postmasters were convicted of theft and...