Buying Art Abroad
by Daniel Grant
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Most foreign travelers return from jaunts with photographs, maybe a stomach ailment and some souvenirs. It might be a statuette, old vase, woodcarving or a painting; every country has its own character that is translated into the monuments in its public squares, ornaments on its churches and images in its works of art. Collecting rare and interesting objects is one of the joys of traveling abroad, but countries around the world have responded with a wide range of laws to protect their art and keep it within their borders.
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Buying pre-20th century works of art in Europe can be difficult since several different governmental agencies can have a say in the matter. And often, a national museum curator will make the final decision on whether or not the piece is part of the "national patrimony." The easiest works to take home with you are those of the 20th century, especially pieces created since the end of the Second World War; the hardest are Old Masters or antiques over 100 years old.
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Heirlooms
Fay Sciarra
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Bazaar
Prasenjit Laha
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Buying art or antiques in Third World countries tends to be more clear-cut since laws explicitly prohibit the export of objects from entire periods of a cultural history. However, many sales occur not with established dealers but in local bazaars, small shops and with individual peddlers. These vendors’ integrity and knowledge of the laws regarding sales of the objects they offer could be suspect.
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What to do? Contact the American Embassy in the particular country. Officials can interpret that country's laws and explain how to go about obtaining an export license if one is needed. The U.S. will not enforce a general restriction on an export unless there is a clear case of theft involved.
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Safe and Sound
Andrei Petrov
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The Rule of Law
Alan Fliesler
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When a dispute arises in the United States between an American collector and a foreign government or individual, the U.S. assumes control, awaiting a decision in an American court. The problems of facing another nation's legal system are not added to a collector's woes.
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Read our archived Art in the News |
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