Centre du droit de l'art
https://plone.unige.ch/art-adr
Sabre de El Hadj Omar Tall – France et Sénégal
https://plone.unige.ch/art-adr/cases-affaires/sabre-de-el-hadj-omar-tall-2013-france-et-senegal
Le sabre avec fourreau, attribué à El Hadj Omar Tall, pris dans des circonstances encore obscures, a été conservé en France à la suite de la conquête de l’Empire Toucouleur, puis prêté à deux reprises au Sénégal avant d’être définitivement restitué par la France, en 2021, par le vote d’une loi de restitution issue d’une initiative politique française.No publisherDeaccessionAntiquity/antiquitésSénégalSymbolic gesture/geste symboliqueUnconstrained initiative/initiative spontanéeFranceColonialism/colonialismeProcedural issue/limites procéduralesCultural cooperation/coopération culturelleUnconditional restitution/restitution sans conditionOwnership/propriétéInalienability/inaliénabilité2022/02/22 11:00:00 GMT+1PageRoad to Calvary – Oppenheimer Heirs and Private Person
https://plone.unige.ch/art-adr/cases-affaires/road-to-calvary-2013-oppenheimer-heirs-and-private-person
In 1935, Nazi authorities took from Jakob and Rosa Oppenheimer a painting entitled “Road to Calvary” by Brunswijker Monogrammist and sold it at auction. The painting resurfaced in 2006 when a Dutch private individual brought it to Sotheby’s determined to sell it. Instead of asking for the painting’s restitution, the Oppenheimer heirs demanded a portion of the sale’s proceeds. The Dutch Restitutions Committee issued a binding opinion on the matter, as requested by the parties.No publisherSettlement agreement/accord transactionnelArtwork/oeuvre d’artInstitutional facilitator/facilitateur institutionnelPrivate person/personne privéeDue diligenceSale/venteNazi looted art/spoliations naziesOwnership/propriétéJakob and Rosa Oppenheimer2012/11/19 09:50:00 GMT+1PageQuedlinburg Treasures – Quedlinburg Church and Meador Heirs
https://plone.unige.ch/art-adr/cases-affaires/quedlinburg-treasures-2013-quedlinburg-church-and-meador-heirs
After the withdrawal of US troops from the medieval town of Quedlinburg in Nazi Germany, the “Quedlinburg Treasures” were found to be missing. This theft was perpetrated by US soldier Joe T. Meador. After his death, the manuscripts passed on to his brother and sister who attempted to sell them. Some manuscripts were purchased by West German entities, whereas the Church of Quedlinburg purchased the rest of the treasures pursuant to a settlement agreement with the Meador Heirs.No publisherJudicial decision/décision judiciaireCriminal offence/infraction pénaleJoe T. MeadorArtwork/oeuvre d’artGermany/AllemagneConditional restitution/restitution sous conditionJudicial claim/action en justiceSpoils of war/butins de guerreStatute of limitation/prescriptionNegotiation/négociationUnited States/États-UnisOwnership/propriétéSettlement agreement/accord transactionnelQuedlinburg Church2016/05/18 10:40:00 GMT+1PageQuatre momies – Chili et Personne privée
https://plone.unige.ch/art-adr/cases-affaires/quatre-momies-2013-chili-et-personne-privee
Le 20 janvier 2011, un particulier restitue quatre momies vieilles de 4000 à 6000 ans au Chili. Des représentants du Chili, des responsables du Musée d’Ethnographie de la Ville de Genève et le Service spécialisé de l’Office fédéral de la culture ont joué un rôle déterminant dans cette affaire.No publisherOwnership/propriétéPrivate person/personne privéeMusée d’ethnographie de la Ville de GenèveHuman remains/restes humainsNegotiation/négociationPost 1970 restitution claims/demandes de restitution post 1970Unconditional restitution/restitution sans conditionAd hoc facilitator/facilitateur ad hocChile/Chili2013/04/12 14:30:00 GMT+1PagePulcinell Sculpture – Budge Heirs v. Anonymous Purchaser
https://plone.unige.ch/art-adr/cases-affaires/pulcinell-sculpture-2013-budge-heirs-v-anonymous-purchaser
A sculpture of Pulcinell was purchased by an anonymous buyer at auction in London in 2016. The buyer applied for an export license and the case came before the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest of the United Kingdom. During the review, it was discovered that the sculpture had been subject to forced sale by Nazis in 1937. The heirs of Emma Budge, the dispossessed owner of the sculpture, discovering what had become of the sculpture, attempted to secure its restitution.No publisherRequest denied/rejet de la demandeInstitutional facilitator/facilitateur institutionnelArtwork/oeuvre d’artOwnership/propriétéUnited Kingdom/Royaume-UniBudge HeirsConciliationNazi looted art/spoliations naziesProcedural issue/limites procédurales2019/08/13 11:55:00 GMT+1PagePre-Columbian Archaeological Objects – United States v. McClain
https://plone.unige.ch/art-adr/cases-affaires/pre-columbian-archaeological-objects-2013-united-states-v-mcclain
This case affirmed the conviction of several dealers who conspired to sell archaeological objects removed from Mexico in violation of the National Stolen Property Act (NSPA). Under the NSPA, it is a crime to deal in property that has been “stolen, unlawfully converted or taken, knowing the same to be stolen”.No publisherCriminal offence/infraction pénaleMcClainMexico/MexiqueEnforcement of foreign law/applicabilité du droit public étrangerIllicit exportation/exportation illiciteArchaeological object/objet archéologiqueJudicial decision/décision judiciaireUnconditional restitution/restitution sans conditionUnited States/États-UnisPost 1970 restitution claims/demandes de restitution post 1970Ownership/propriété2014/07/17 17:20:00 GMT+1PagePoster Collection – Sachs Heirs v. Foundation German Historical Museum
https://plone.unige.ch/art-adr/cases-affaires/poster-collection-2013-sachs-heirs-v-foundation-german-historical-museum
Hans Sachs began collecting posters from the end of the nineteenth century. This collection was considered lost as a result of its seizure by the Nazis in 1937. In 2005, Peter Sachs, as Hans Sachs’ son and sole heir, located his father’s collection at the German Historical Museum and demanded its restitution. A judgment of the German Federal Court of Justice made possible the return of the poster collection to Peter Sachs.No publisherUnconditional restitution/restitution sans conditionJudicial claim/action en justiceConciliationHans SachsFoundation German Historical MuseumProcedural issue/limites procéduralesArchivesJudicial decision/décision judiciaireNazi looted art/spoliations naziesOwnership/propriétéNegotiation/négociation2017/01/24 15:55:00 GMT+1PagePortrait of Greta Moll – Moll Heirs v. National Gallery of London
https://plone.unige.ch/art-adr/cases-affaires/portrait-of-greta-moll-2013-moll-heirs-v-national-gallery-of-london
The “Portrait of Greta Moll” has been subject to a claim for return. The heirs of the painting’s subject argued the painting was stolen in the aftermath of the Second World War and claimed that the National Gallery of London did not purchase the work in good faith. The case has been heard in two courts of the United States.No publisherPost 1970 restitution claims/demandes de restitution post 1970National Gallery, LondonDeaccessionProcedural issue/limites procéduralesMargrete MollRequest denied/rejet de la demandeCriminal offence/infraction pénaleDue diligenceStatute of limitation/prescriptionOwnership/propriétéUnited Kingdom/Royaume-UniState immunity/immunité des EtatsJudicial claim/action en justiceJurisdiction/conflit de jurisdictionArtwork/oeuvre d’artConciliationNazi looted art/spoliations naziesJudicial decision/décision judiciaireThe American Friends of the National GalleryOskar Moll2019/08/12 14:20:00 GMT+1PagePortrait of a Youth – Reichel Heirs v. Sarah Blodgett Dunbar
https://plone.unige.ch/art-adr/cases-affaires/portrait-of-a-youth-2013-reichel-heirs-v-sarah-blodgett-dunbar
In the mid-2000s, Claudia Seger-Thomschitz, one of the heirs of Oskar Reichel, attempted to recover the painting “Portrait of a Youth” from Sarah Blodgett Dunbar on the grounds that it had been lost as a result of Nazi persecution. The 2010 appeal decision of the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals settled the case in favour of Sarah Blodgett Dunbar.No publisherJudicial decision/décision judiciaireRequest denied/rejet de la demandeArtwork/oeuvre d’artOskar ReichelDue diligenceSarah Blodgett DunbarJudicial claim/action en justiceProcedural issue/limites procéduralesStatute of limitation/prescriptionNazi looted art/spoliations naziesOwnership/propriété2017/05/11 09:55:00 GMT+1PagePortrait of a Young Peasant – Beyeler v. Italy
https://plone.unige.ch/art-adr/cases-affaires/portrait-of-a-young-peasant-2013-beyeler-v-italy
In its judgment of 5 January 2000, the European Court of Human Rights held that the Italian State violated Mr. Beyeler’s right to peaceful enjoyment of his possessions while using its pre-emption right over the Van Gogh painting “Portrait of a Young Peasant”. No publisherJudicial decision/décision judiciaireArtwork/oeuvre d’artItaly/ItalieExpropriationJudicial claim/action en justiceFinancial compensation/indemnisationOwnership/propriétéErnst Beyeler2013/06/13 14:05:00 GMT+1PagePièces d’or géantes – Inde c. Crédit Agricole Indosuez SA
https://plone.unige.ch/art-adr/cases-affaires/pieces-d2019or-geantes-2013-inde-contre-credit-agricole-indosuez-sa
Deux pièces d’or géantes anciennes d’une valeur exceptionnelle, tant d’un point de vue économique que culturel, sont mises en gage auprès d’une Banque à Genève par le petit-fils de l’ancien Nizam de la Principauté d’Hyderabad. L’Inde introduit une action auprès des tribunaux genevois dans le but d’en obtenir la restitution. No publisherOwnership/propriétéJudicial claim/action en justiceCriminal offence/infraction pénaleEnforcement of foreign law/applicabilité du droit public étrangerDue diligenceJudicial decision/décision judiciairePost 1970 restitution claims/demandes de restitution post 1970Illicit exportation/exportation illiciteAntiquity/antiquitésProcedural issue/limites procéduralesStatute of limitation/prescriptionRequest denied/rejet de la demandeIndia/IndeCrédit agricole Indosuez SAChoice of law/droit applicable2013/03/20 15:10:00 GMT+1PagePâté de Jambon – Anonymous German Heirs and Glasgow City Council
https://plone.unige.ch/art-adr/cases-affaires/pate-de-jambon-2013-anonymous-german-heirs-and-glasgow-city-council
“Pâté de Jambon”, a painting by Jean-Baptiste-Siméon Chardin, was the object of a forced sale in 1936. The owners, the Jewish shareholders of an art gallery, were forced to sell the artwork to meet an unfair Nazi tax demand.No publisherNazi looted art/spoliations naziesOwnership/propriétéDeaccessionDue diligenceNegotiation/négociationAnonymous German HeirsSettlement agreement/accord transactionnelConciliationGlasgow City CouncilEx gratia payment/versement à titre gracieux2013/02/20 15:45:00 GMT+1PageOrpheus Mosaic – Turkey and Dallas Museum of Art
https://plone.unige.ch/art-adr/cases-affaires/orpheus-mosaic-2013-turkey-and-dallas-museum-of-art
In December 2012, the Dallas Museum of Art returned to Turkey a fragment of a Roman mosaic. In addition, the parties concluded a comprehensive art exchange program.No publisherUnconstrained initiative/initiative spontanéeSettlement agreement/accord transactionnelIllicit excavation/fouille illiciteConditional restitution/restitution sous conditionIllicit exportation/exportation illiciteArchaeological object/objet archéologiqueDallas Museum of ArtNegotiation/négociationCultural cooperation/coopération culturellePost 1970 restitution claims/demandes de restitution post 1970Ownership/propriétéTurkey/Turquie2013/05/11 17:30:00 GMT+1PageOne-Thousand-Five-Hundred-Pound, Hand-Carved Lintels Removed from Religious Temples in Thailand – United States of America and City & County of San Francisco
https://plone.unige.ch/art-adr/cases-affaires/one-thousand-five-hundred-pound-hand-carved-lintels-removed-from-religious-temples-in-thailand-2013-united-states-of-america-and-city-county-of-san-francisco
In 2017, the government of Thailand formally requested that the United States restitute two ancient stone lintels of Khmer origin that had been removed from Thai temples between 1959–1968 and acquired by the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco. From 2017 to 2020, the United States and Thailand negotiated with the Museum for the restitution of the lintels, but in October 2020, the United States sued the Museum in federal court to seek their forfeiture. In February 2021, the Museum and the United States settled the case for a conditional restitution of the lintels to Thailand.No publisherDeaccessionAntiquity/antiquitésSettlement agreement/accord transactionnelKingdom of ThailandConditional restitution/restitution sous conditionDue diligenceIllicit exportation/exportation illiciteJudicial claim/action en justiceDiplomatic channel/voie diplomatiquePre 1970 restitution claims/demandes de restitution pre 1970Negotiation/négociationUnited States/États-UnisOwnership/propriétéCity & County of San Francisco2023/10/09 11:05:00 GMT+1PageOn the Shore of the Seine – United States v. Baltimore Museum of Art
https://plone.unige.ch/art-adr/cases-affaires/on-the-shore-of-the-seine-2013-united-states-of-america-v-baltimore-museum-of-art
In 1951, Pierre-Auguste Renoir’s painting “On the shore of the Seine” was stolen from the Baltimore Museum of Art in the United States. Over fifty years later, Marcia Fuqua bought this painting for US $7 at a flea market and tried to auction it off after learning of its value. No publisherJudicial decision/décision judiciaireBaltimore Museum of ArtArtwork/oeuvre d’artUnited States/États-UnisDue diligenceJudicial claim/action en justiceUnconditional restitution/restitution sans conditionMarcia FuquaPost 1970 restitution claims/demandes de restitution post 1970Ownership/propriété2015/02/17 18:15:00 GMT+1Page